Richard Simmons Reveals He Underwent Treatment for Skin Cancer Following Diagnosis

Fitness expert Richard Simmons hosts a weekly radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio at the Slimmons Studios in Beverly Hills, Calif., on July 13, 2008. Michael Buckner/Getty Images

One day after posting a cryptic message on Facebook that he was “dying,” Richard Simmons opened up about being diagnosed with skin cancer “many years ago.”

The 75-year-old fitness guru, who rose to fame as a popular daytime television personality in the 1980s, took to the social media platform on Tuesday to recount his past health scare. After noticing a “strange-looking bump” under his right eye that wouldn’t go away, Mr. Simmons said he promptly consulted his dermatologist.

“I sat in his chair and he looked at it through a magnifying mirror. He told me he would have to scrape it and put it under the microscope,” the former fitness coach wrote, admitting that he was “a little bit nervous” at that point.

“He comes back about 20 minutes later and says the C word. You have cancer,” Mr. Simmons shared.

The dermatologist informed him that he had a type of skin cancer known as basal cell carcinoma. “I told him to stop calling me dirty names,” the television personality quipped.

Mr. Simmons was later seen by Dr. Ralph A. Massey, a dermatologic and skin cancer surgeon based in Southern California.

“I waited in his waiting room and said hello to all of these people who had skin cancer as well. I was shocked to see all of the skin cancers they had,” he said, noting that some had cancer on top of their heads and their neck.

Dr. Massey then burned his skin to remove the cancer cells, a process he said took about 30 minutes. “There was no numbing it,” he detailed. “As he started burning my skin a tear dropped down my cheek.”

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, heat or chemical agents often eradicate the cancer cells after a dermatologist scrapes or shaves away the basal cell carcinoma. The nonprofit organization notes that these procedures are nearly 95 percent effective. However, patients may undergo either procedure “a few times during the same session” to wholly destroy the cancer cells.

Continuing his story in a Wednesday Facebook post, Mr. Simmons shared that in his case, “the third time was a charm.”

He recounted: “With a smile on his face, [Dr. Massey] said, ‘We got all the cancer cells out.’ I gave him a hug.”

Skin Cancer Diagnosis

Mr. Simmons noted that before he left Dr. Massey’s office, the doctor checked his arms, back, chest, and legs for any additional skin cancer spots.

“I had a little Frankenstein under my right eye for a while,” he said about the mark left behind by the procedure. “[Dr. Massey] gave me some cream to put on it which I did religiously. Because of his fine work, I don’t have a scar.”

Mr. Simmons mentioned that his cancer “was nothing compared to some people that [he] knew” and rounded out his lengthy Facebook message by encouraging anyone reading to get tested for cancer.

“I know some of you reading this have had cancer or have known someone in your life who has had cancer. Promise me you will see your doctor and get a complete check-up,” he wrote.

In a follow-up post shared on Wednesday, Mr. Simmons noted that his cancer scare “happened so many years ago.”

“The reason I wrote these two messages is that if you see a spot on your body please go to your doctor ...so they can diagnose it right away,” he wrote. “I guess I should be more careful about what I write about.”

‘I Am Dying’

News of Mr. Simmons’s skin cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment followed a shocking Facebook post he published on Monday, which triggered a wave of concern among fans.

“I have some news to tell you. Please don’t be sad. I am ….dying. Oh I can see your faces now. The truth is we all are dying. Every day we live we are getting closer to our death,” he wrote.

“Why am I telling you this? Because I want you to enjoy your life to the fullest every single day. Get up in the morning and look at the sky… count your blessings and enjoy,” he shared before listing off a slew of nutrition and exercise advice.

He continued: “There is something else very important that you must do. Tell the ones that you love that you love them. Hug those people and children who you really care for. A big hug really goes a long way.”

Mr. Simmons closed out his Facebook post by asking his followers “to listen to a terrific song,” referencing Tim McGraw’s 2004 hit “Live Like You Were Dying.”

“Live today and don’t forget to pray,” he concluded.

In response to the outpouring of messages he received, Mr. Simmons—who has remained largely out of the public eye for the better part of the last decade—promptly issued an apology and clarified that he was not actually dying.

“Sorry many of you have gotten upset about my message today. Even the press has gotten in touch with me. I am not dying,” he wrote.

“It was a message about saying how we should embrace every day that we have,” he added. “Sorry for this confusion.”