John Cena is sharing his past skin cancer diagnosis to highlight the importance of sunscreen. In an interview with People, the actor and WWE star said he grew up in Massachusetts in the ’70s and ’80s never using sun protection. Even after moving to Florida, he admitted he still neglected sunscreen despite daily sun exposure.

“I was stubborn,” said Cena, who turns 48 on April 23. “I had a ton of exposure with minimal protection and it caught up with me.” It wasn’t until a routine dermatology appointment that he discovered a cancerous spot on his right pec. The 16-time WWE world champion described the moment as frightening: “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.”

A year later, doctors removed another spot near his right shoulder. “If you watch WWE, you’ll be able to see them,” he noted. The diagnoses, while alarming, forced a shift in his attitude. What had once been neglect turned into a daily commitment to skin protection.

Cena now promotes Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 70 and practices daily self-care. “I’m grateful to have dodged those two bullets,” he said, “but I wear them as a reminder to protect myself every day.”

He compares applying sunscreen to brushing your teeth—a simple, daily act that can prevent serious consequences. “It’s not just about looking good,” he said. “It’s about staying yourself for longer.”