Published May 12, 2025

John Cena, 48, Says ‘Sobering’ Skin Cancer Diagnosis Prompted Him To Change His Life ‘Right There’ — What To Know About Prevention & Detection

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John Cena Turns His Sights Towards Skin Cancer Prevention

WWE champ turned actor John Cena, 48, recently unveiled that he has been diagnosed with skin cancer — a shock that prompted him to change his ways and get involved with a new skin cancer prevention campaign with Neutrogena.
The actor told People that the first cancerous spot on his skin was discovered during a routine visit with the dermatologist, who promptly removed it and sent it for testing. Another was discovered a year later.
He called the information ‘sobering,’ and reflected on the importance of using sunscreen — something he neglected as a kid and young man who loved being outside in the sun.
Skin cancer prevention is something we can all incorporate into our routines. As Cena’s story illustrates, wearing sunscreen is key — but dermatologists have some other simple tips to reduce your skin cancer risk such as avoiding the sun during peak hours (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), opting for self tanner, and getting regular skin checks at a dermatologist.

WWE champ turned actor John Cena, 48, recently unveiled that he has been diagnosed with skin cancer, something he “never thought” would reach him. He’s the new face of Neutrogena’s campaign for Ultra Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 70 — and has admitted he rarely protected his skin from the sun’s rays as a young man.

“Skincare is a more palatable and accepted term and subject matter amongst women,” he says. While discussions about skin safety are less common among men, Cena hopes he can help change that. “Men especially, are becoming more conscious of self-care… I just think we need to make it more commonplace.”

The actor told People that the first cancerous spot on his skin was discovered during a routine visit with the dermatologist, who promptly removed it and sent it for testing. The next was discovered a year later.

“I received the phone call twice, ‘Hey you’ve go to come back, because the biopsy came back cancerous,'” he told the outlet. “That information is sobering, and it right there prompted me to change my life.”

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Skin Cancer Prevention & Detection

Cena told People that sunscreen was never really even on his radar growing up.

“Some of my earliest memories of summer are of small carnivals and people walking the beachside,” he said of his time growing up in a small town near the beach in Massachusetts.

“My mom [Carol] raised five boys and I’m pretty sure she just wanted to just keep us alive and healthy. 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,” he added.

He also recounted his “love” for the sun, which he embraced in his early 20s when he moved to Florida, a time in his life where he “neglected” his skin.

Cena explained further, “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.”

Skin cancer prevention is something we can all incorporate into our routines. As Cena’s story illustrates, wearing sunscreen is key — but dermatologists have some other simple tips to reduce your skin cancer risk.

Dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman explains what you can do to reduce skin cancer risk.

Here’s a breakdown of what you can do today to reduce risk:

Wear sunscreen: Sunscreen should be broad-spectrum (meaning it blocks both UVA and UVB) rays and have an SPF of at least 30. It’s recommended to wear sunscreen anytime you are spending a significant amount of time outdoors (even on a 30 minute walk) and to reapply every two hours.
Avoid peak sun hours: The sun is typically the strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Wear protective clothing: Besides shade and sunscreen, clothing can provide a physical barrier against the sun’s harmful rays. Look for specially designed sun-protective clothing or dark, tightly woven clothes. A broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses help too.
Consider self-tanner: If you feel you look better with a tan, consider using a self-tanning product — but always avoid tanning beds.
Get a skin check: Dermatologists recommend that patients come in for a full body skin check once a year. You can check your own skin between visits, too.

Understanding Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in the skin. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States,” with nearly 5 million people treated for it every year.

There are three main types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma, and they can range a great deal in severity and treatment options.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)

This is a highly treatable form of skin cancer. The basal cells are small, round cells in the lowest part of the epidermis, which is the skin’s outer layer. Cancer can begin in these cells, whose job is to create new cells as old ones die.

BCC is often a slow-growing form of cancer, usually diagnosed under a microscope after the suspicious lesion or lump has been removed from the body. Removal can happen in many ways, from surgery to freezing to laser removal.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)

This forms in the squamous cells of the body. According to the National Cancer Institute, these cells are found on “the surface of the skin, the lining of the hollow organs of the body, and the lining of the respiratory and digestive tracts,” in other words, in various parts of your body.

Like BCC, it is usually treatable with surgery, though some more advanced cases may require additional treatment like radiation.

Melanoma

This is the most dangerous skin cancer. Essentially, this is a cancer of the melanocytes, the skin cells that produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color.

Dr. Cecilia Larocca, a dermatologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, previously told SurvivorNet, “Melanoma gets lumped in together as a skin cancer. But it is quite different compared to squamous cell or basal cell.”

Many people are diagnosed with melanoma when they notice a new mole or a previous mole that has changed in appearance.

Only a biopsy can tell if the mole is cancerous or not. Dr. Larocca says, “On average, for about every 12 biopsies that they do, one of them turns out to be melanoma.”

Melanoma has the potential to be deadly if it moves beyond the skin and invades other organs. However, Dr. Anna Pavlick, an oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine, explained to SurvivorNet that people with stage 1 melanoma have a 90% chance of being cured and people with stage 2 have a 75-80% chance of being cured from surgical excision alone.

People with stage 3 have a 50% chance of being cured with only surgical excision, but there are also many other treatments that are available beyond surgery.

“It’s a very different world now than it was even five years ago,” she says of the medicine that can impact survival rates. Today, advanced melanoma can be treated with newer treatments like immunotherapy.

Check out SurvivorNet’s in-depth resources on the latest in melanoma treatment here.

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