WWE superstar John Cena reveals past skin cancer diagnosis
'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.'
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Inside the squared circle, WWE legend John Cena has been as an infallible superhero-type figure.
But, of course, he is only human and has revealed a big scare that he suffered outside of the ring.
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WWE superstar John Cena reveals past skin cancer diagnosis Back to video
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Cena, who recently teamed up with Neutrogena for a new sun care campaign, shared that he had been diagnosed with skin care in his past — twice.
In an interview with People while talking about the ‘Sunscreen You Can’t See’ campaign with the skin care company, the pro wrestling icon-turned-movie star detailed his journey.
“I grew up in a small town next to Newburyport and Salisbury Beach. The Massholes call it the North Shore,” the 16-time WWE world champion said. “Some of my earliest memories of summer are of small carnivals and people walking the beachside.”
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As for how often he used sunscreen growing up: “Never.”
“My mom (Carol) raised five boys and I’m pretty sure she just wanted to just keep us alive and healthy,” he said. “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.”
After moving to Florida in his early 20s, Cena says he “fell in love with the sun,” but admittedly “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 told the outlet.
As for what prompted him to start using sunscreen, it turned out to be a harsh wakeup call.
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“It wasn’t until I went to a dermatologist and got a skin checkup and had a cancerous spot removed from my right pec,” he said of when he first started wearing sunscreen.
Then, after having the spot removed, Cena recalls receiving an ominous call from his doctor saying “You got to come back in.”
“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,” Cena continued. “The stats on this are overwhelming, but as much as I learn about them, those numbers don’t mean anything. 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.”
But he wasn’t out of the woods just yet.
“A year later I went back and had another spot removed close to my right shoulder,” Cena continued. “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 currently is on the road to Wrestlemania, WWE’s biggest event of the year. After winning the Elimination Chamber match in Toronto last month, Cena earned a shot at the WWE Universal Championship against Cody Rhodes.
But, what really made headlines was how Cena — after decades of being a good-guy babyface in the business — turned heel after his match, teaming up with the Rock and attacking Rhodes.
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