Cena is a household name. His rise to fame began in 2002 when WWE signed him, where he garnered attention from viewers for his charismatic persona and impressive in-ring abilities.
The 47-year-old debuted on WWE’s flagship show, SmackDown, with his famous character, Doctor of Thuganomics.
Over the next two decades, Cena became one of the most prominent figures in the show’s history.
Cena has now broken into Hollywood, starring in roles such as Fast & Furious 9, Bumblebee, and The Suicide Squad, solidifying his career as an actor.
The WWE star has now shared a heartbreaking cancer diagnosis. Fans are flocking to social media to share their support.
One person writes: “I really admire John Cena for being brave enough to speak out about his experience.”
“His openness can help encourage others to prioritize their health,” another adds. “Thank you for sharing this important message.”
“This is heartbreaking; goes to show that no matter how healthy you are, cancer doesn’t discriminate,” a third types.
Cena’s health announcement comes after being the new face of Neutrogena’s new Ultra Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 70, an invisible, lightweight sun protector.
Starring in the campaign, titled ‘Sunscreen You Can’t See,’ which pays homage to the WWE legend’s days in the ring with his famous ‘You Can’t See Me’ hand gesture.
The video also features dermatologist and skin cancer surgeon Dr. Neera Nathan alongside Cena, who highlights the importance of using sunscreen daily.
In an interview with People, the Daddy’s Home actor revealed the campaign is very close to his heart.
“I grew up in a small town next to Newburyport and Salisbury Beach. The Massholes call it the North Shore,” he explains. “Some of my earliest memories of summer are of small carnivals and people walking the beachside.”
Cena also shares that he never wore sunscreen as a child. With his mother raising five boys, it was never a main priority. In addition, back in 1977, there was not as much emphasis on the importance of sun protection.
In his early twenties, the WWE star moved from New England to Florida, where he ‘fell in love with the sun,’ but admits he ‘neglected’ his skin.
“I was stubborn. I didn’t want to have a routine, and I also thought the problem would never reach me. And it’s one of those things where I had a ton of exposure with minimal protection, and it caught up with me,” he reveals.
Neglecting his skin led him to a diagnosis: “It wasn’t until I went to a dermatologist and got a skin checkup and had a cancerous spot removed from my right pec.”
Cena remembers receiving the devastating call: “You got to come back in.”
The 47-year-old says he is ‘very lucky’ to have a great dermatologist; he adds that the stats for skin cancer are ‘overwhelming.’
In the U.S., an estimated 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, and approximately 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day, as per The Skin Care Foundation.
The A-lister adds: “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 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.”
Cena is now advising people to make sure they’re protecting themselves from the sun and that applying sunscreen should be part of their daily routine, just like ‘brushing your teeth.’
