Skip To...
John Cena‘s Neutrogena collaboration has a special meaning behind it. On Monday, March 31, the WWE superstar teamed up with the cosmetics company for its new “Sunscreen You Can’t See” campaign. While the partnership is a clever nod to Cena’s iconic “You Can’t See Me” hand gesture, it’s also meant to raise awareness about the need for sun protection. The Fast X actor admitted he only learned about the harmful side effects of sun overexposure after receiving his skin cancer diagnosis.
The Story Behind John Cena’s Neutrogena Collaboration
In an exclusive for People, John Cena revealed he developed skin cancer after spending too much time in the sun. He said he grew up in a small town in Massachusetts called the North Shore and would spend his summers outdoors, hanging out at carnivals and walking along the beach. As a kid, Cena didn’t know any better and would never wear sunscreen. He also said that his mother, Carol, never reminded him to put some on since she was always so busy. After all, she had five boys to raise. “She had her hands full for sure, so I certainly do not blame her,” Cena said, adding that there was also little information out there about the need for sun protection.
Unfortunately, he continued to neglect his skin in his twenties after moving to Florida. While he blamed his poor skin care during his childhood due to lack of knowledge, Cena admitted his stubbornness was to blame for not wearing sunscreen as an adult. “I didn’t want to have a routine and I also thought the problem would never reach me,” he explained.
Learning About His Skin Cancer Diagnosis
However, it did eventually catch up with him. John Cena said he learned about how important it is to take care of one’s skin after receiving his skin cancer diagnosis. He recalled visiting a dermatologist for a checkup when the doctor found a cancerous spot on his right pec.
Once he got it removed, Cena thought his worries were over. However, he ended up getting another call from his dermatologist asking him to return to his office. It turns out he had another cancerous spot on his right shoulder. Thankfully, the doctor was also able to remove it. Cena says he feels “very lucky” the dermatologist caught them before things got worse.
Despite everything that happened, Cena has chosen to look at the bright side of things. After receiving his cancer diagnosis, the wrestler is using his experience to inform others about the importance of sun protection. “I think the best way to hammer home a point is human-to-human connection,” he said. “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.”
Fans were understandably shocked to hear about John Cena’s skin cancer diagnosis. Over the years, he’s met many cancer patients as part of his Make-A-Wish partnerships. They can’t believe he was secretly going through cancer himself. However, they’re happy to hear he’s overcome it and has come out stronger on the other side.
