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