John Cena issues urgent warning about signs of cancer after heartbreaking diagnosis

John Cena has issued an urgent warning about cancer symptoms after revealing his own heartbreaking diagnosis.

The WWE icon and actor opened up about his health scare in a new campaign with Neutrogena, using his platform to highlight the importance of sunscreen and regular skin checks.

In an interview with PEOPLE magazine, Cena admitted that growing up, he “never” used sunscreen and brushed off any need for it. “I was born in ’77,” he told the outlet, explaining that back then, protecting your skin “was kind of all new knowledge”.

Later, after relocating to Florida, the 47-year-old said he continued to “neglect” his skin despite spending significant time in the sun.

“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 said.

That wake-up call came during a visit to the dermatologist, who found “a cancerous spot” on his “right pec.” Thankfully, it was removed early, but the experience was sobering.

The Peacemaker star credited his dermatologist for helping him through the “overwhelming” moment.

“My great dermatologist held [me] by the hand and let [me] know that [I] wasn’t alone,” he said, adding that personal support can often have more impact than cold statistics.

“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,” he said.

A year later, Cena had to go under the knife again to remove another spot, and the emotional toll wasn’t easy.

“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,” he said, adding that it’s not always easy stopping your mind “going to the worst-case scenario”.

Now, in a “great space,” Cena says the experience has changed his approach to sun safety. “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 said.

His message is simple: if something looks off, get it checked, and don’t skip the sunscreen.

Cena just wrapped up the Europe tour with WWE ahead of what’s expected to be his final WrestleMania match against champion Cody Rhodes.

In a rare turn, he’s taken on a “heel” persona in the lead-up to what could be his record-breaking 17th world title win before retiring from in-ring competition.

Though he’s stepping back from wrestling, Cena will stay with WWE in an ambassador role while continuing his acting career.

“The word ‘retirement,’ to me, simply means acknowledging and accepting that you’re closing a chapter and opening another one,” he told Yahoo, citing The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life by David Brooks as a book that helped reinforce his perspective on what comes next.

“This is a thing that a lot of folks go through, and it’s a normal progression in life,” he continued. “It’s closing a chapter, continuing to be curious and finding that second mountain to climb.”

Looking back on his career, the former world champion says he has no regrets. “Any creative venture has to involve courage because you’re essentially putting a piece of art out there and letting everyone have an opinion on it.”

“You have to have the courage to give your best and also the courage to understand that once it’s out in the universe, it is the subject of opinion,” he said, adding: “If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years it is you can’t please everyone.”