WWE legend John Cena has issued a warning regarding cancer symptoms after revealing his own surprise diagnosis last year.
The 48-year-old shared information about his brush with the disease in a 2025 campaign with skin care company Neutrogena. Cena tried to impress upon fans last year the importance of wearing sunscreen and undergoing regular skin checks to be vigilant where melanoma (skin cancer) is concerned.
In an interview with PEOPLE Magazine in March of 2025, Cena revealed he had “never” used sunscreen growing up.
“I was born in ’77,” he said, explaining that at the time, protecting your skin “was kind of all new knowledge”.
After relocating to Florida, the professional wrestler turned movie star admitted that he had continued to “neglect” his skin health, spending significant time in the sun without the appropriate protection.
“I didn’t want to have a routine, and I also thought the problem would never reach me,” Cena said. “And it’s one of those things where I had a ton of exposure with minimal protection, and it caught up with me.”
A trip to a dermatologist later made him better understand the error of his ways.
“I went to a dermatologist and got a skin checkup and had a cancerous spot removed from my right pec,” the 48-year-old said.
“The stats on this are overwhelming, but as much as I learn about them, those numbers don’t mean anything,” he continued. “I think the best way to hammer home a point is human-to-human connection. And I as a human can tell you: Man, that phone call’s not what you want to get because it is unpredictable, and you don’t know how bad it’s going to be.
“A year later I went back and had another spot removed closed to my right shoulder,” he said. “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.”
Though the experiences definitely took an emotional toll, Cena is now in a good place in life.
“I’m at a great space in my life where that’s now important to me,” he said. “And 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.’”
Remember to always check your body for differences, big or small. And seek medical advice where unsure!
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