While emphasizing the importance of sun protection, WWE superstar and actor John Cena shared his secret battle with skin cancer due to frequent sun exposure.
- March 31, 2025
AceShowbiz - John Cena has built a loyal fanbase, known as the Cenation, over the past 23 years since his Smackdown debut. However, behind his larger-than-life image, he faced a personal challenge that he kept private until now.
Teaming up with Neutrogena to launch their Ultra Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 70, Cena explained why this partnership holds a deeper significance for him as he revealed his secret battle with skin cancer in the process.
"I grew up in a small town next to Newburyport and Salisbury Beach. The Massholes call it the North Shore," Cena, a Massachusetts native, reminisced about his early days of spending summers without sunscreen. His carelessness continued into adulthood with his frequent sun exposure after he moved to Florida.
"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 revealed.
The wake-up call prompted him to take sun protection seriously, crediting his dermatologist for guiding him through the unsettling experience. "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," he shared.
Since his diagnosis, Cena has become an advocate for sun care. His approach to sunscreen evolved from neglect to diligent protection, culminating in his partnership with Neutrogena.
"They developed this Ultra Sheer sunscreen that goes on easily and is invisible, and they wanted somebody who the world knows as invisible," Cena explained. The synergy between his persona and the product made his advocacy even more impactful.
Reflecting on his journey, Cena emphasized the importance of daily sunscreen use. "If you're out there and you brush your teeth, at a young age you learned that going to the dentist when your teeth are in bad shape is bad because it's painful. The same thing will happen if you don't take care of your skin," he advised, highlighting the ease and necessity of incorporating sun care into daily routines.
As Cena winds down his wrestling career, he finds value in being a spokesperson for a skincare campaign, reaching people in unexpected ways. "You never know who you're going to reach, right?" he mused, grateful for the opportunity to make a difference.
