John Cena has revealed that he was twice diagnosed with skin cancer.
The WWE icon, who made an appearance on this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw in London, made the admission as he launched a new campaign to promote the use of sunscreen.
Speaking to People magazine, Cena said he ‘neglected’ his skin when he was younger, and that he ‘never’ applied protection when out in the sun.
“I grew up in a small town next to Newburyport and Salisbury Beach. Some of my earliest memories of summer are of small carnivals and people walking the beachside,” the WWE star, who is winding down his career, said.
“My mom raised five boys and I’m pretty sure she just wanted to just keep us alive and healthy.
“She had her hands full for sure, so I certainly do not blame her. And me being born in ’77, this was kind of all new knowledge.”
Cena’s neglect of sunscreen continued into his twenties, when he moved from Massachusetts to Florida.
He admitted that he became ‘stubborn’ and didn’t want to have a routine because he thought the problem ‘would never reach me’.
“It’s one of those things where I had a ton of exposure with minimal protection and it caught up with me,” the 16-time WWE champion continued, opening up on his diagnosis.
“I went to a dermatologist and got a skin checkup and had a cancerous spot removed from my right pec.
“I was very lucky to have a great dermatologist who kind of, I guess for lack of a better term, held me by the hand and let me know that I wasn’t alone.”
The 47-year-old also recalled that, after having the spot removed, he received an ominous call telling him to ‘come back in’ for another check.
“Man, that phone call’s not what you want to get because it’s unpredictable and you don’t know how bad it’s going to be,” Cena said.
“A year later I went back and had another spot removed close to my right shoulder. It shows up like a white polka dot on the side of my chest and on my shoulder. If you watch WWE, you’ll be able to see them.”
In his interview with People, Cena admitted that when faced with ‘uncomfortable stuff’, his mind ‘always goes to the worst-case scenario.’
He added that his dermatologist helped ‘coach’ him through the tough time, and that he is in a great place now.
“I’m so grateful to be able to dodge those two bullets, but I wear them as a reminder of, ‘Hey man, you need to take the extra few seconds to protect yourself every day,’” he shared.
Cena has now teamed up with Neutrogena to promote their Ultra Sheer Mineral Sunscreen, saying his own approach has gone from ‘neglect’ to ‘mass protect’.
“Never once did I picture myself as the go-to person for a skincare campaign,” he said.
“And just because I love what I do and have passion for what I do, and I’m so grateful to have the backing of such a dedicated audience for so long, a very unlikely spokesperson has been able to be a spokesperson for a skincare campaign.
“You never know who you’re going to reach.”
Cena, who recently shocked his fans by turning heel, will next be in action against Cody Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 41.
