Symptoms of skin cancer as John Cena opens up on diagnosis and urges people to be aware of the signs

John Cena is urging people to be aware of the symptoms of skin cancer after he was forced to have two 'cancerous spots' removed.

The professional wrestler, 47, has spoken out about the importance of shielding your skin from sun damage after admitting he paid the price for 'never' wearing suncream.

Throughout both his childhood in Massachusetts and his later life in Florida, Cena confessed he 'neglected' rather than protected his skin.

The WWE star then received 'some unfortunate news' regarding the impact this had on his health after visiting a dermatologist for a checkup.

"I had a cancerous spot removed from my right pec," Cena told People. "A year later I went back and had another spot removed close to my right shoulder.

"It shows up like a white polka dot on the side of my chest and on my shoulder. If you watch WWE, you'll be able to see them."

Cena revealed he had to have two 'cancerous spots' removed (Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)

He hopes that he can encourage others to take better care of their skin by sharing his story, while dually raising awareness of the signs of skin cancer.

There are a few different types of this disease, with the main three being basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.

And the primary cause of each of these is overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds - but how can you tell if you have it?

Well, you'll need to get that confirmed by a medical professional, of course, but you can help catch it early by keeping an eye on any 'suspicious changes' on your skin.

As experts at Mayo Clinic explain, 'early detection gives you the greatest chance for successful skin cancer treatment', so it's something you want to seriously keep on top of.

It states: "Skin cancer develops primarily on areas of sun-exposed skin, including the scalp, face, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms and hands, and on the legs in women.

The WWE star is now urging people to protect their skin from sun damage to minimise the risk of the disease (Getty Stock Photo)

"But it can also form on areas that rarely see the light of day - your palms, beneath your fingernails or toenails, and your genital area. Skin cancer affects people of all skin tones, including those with darker complexions."

Each type of skin cancer comes with different symptoms, so it's a good idea to be fairly clued up on them all.

Let's take basal cell carcinoma, for starts - this non-melanoma skin cancer is a growth or unusual patch on the skin, according to the NHS.

The UK health service explains that it can impact any part of your skin, however, it is most common in areas which are exposed to the sun; such as your head, face, ears, neck, shoulders, back, hands and lower legs.

Mayo Clinic says that basal cell carcinoma may appear as a 'pearly or waxy bump', a 'flat, flesh-coloured or brown scar-like lesion' or perhaps a 'bleeding or scabbing sore that heals and returns'.

Then there is squamous cell carcinoma, which also typically appears on sun-exposed areas of your skin.

It's best to get any suspicious marks or moles on your body checked out by a medical professional (Getty Stock Photo)

This might appear as a 'firm, red nodule' or a 'flat lesion with a scaly, crusted surface', Mayo Clinic explains.

And finally, there's melanoma - which can crop up anywhere on your body, including in moles which you thought were fine beforehand.

The NHS warns: "A new mole or a change in an existing mole may be signs of melanoma. Melanomas can appear anywhere on your body, but they're more common in areas that are often exposed to the sun.

"Some rarer types can affect the eyes, soles of the feet, palms of the hands or genitals."

For this one, you need to be wary of moles with an uneven shape or edge, moles with a mix of colours, moles that are particularly large and moles that change over time.

Mayo Clinic also explain that melanoma can appear as a 'large brownish spot with darker speckles', or a 'small lesion with an irregular border and portions that appear red, pink, white, blue or blue-black'.

You're also probably best checking in with a doctor if you notice a painful or dark lesion on your skin which itches or burns, according to the experts.