Richard Simmons Discloses Skin Cancer Diagnosis Following Alarming Message About Mortality
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 28: Richard Simmons performs at the One Kid One World Night of (At Least) 18 Laughs) at Largo on April 28, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.
Richard Simmons disclosed that he has been diagnosed with skin cancer.
Following a concerning message about his well-being, the elusive fitness icon took to Facebook to announce his skin cancer diagnosis. The 75-year-old revealed that a dermatologist identified a suspicious bump under his right eye as basal cell carcinoma, the most prevalent type of skin cancer.
The Skin Cancer Foundation defines it as the most curable and one that can cause minimal damage when caught and treat early. In the U.S. alone, an estimated 3.6 million cases are diagnosed annually.
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During his dermatologist visit, Simmons recounted sitting in the chair as the doctor examined a suspicious bump under his right eye through a magnifying mirror. The doctor informed him that they would need to scrape the area and examine it under a microscope, causing Simmons to feel increasingly anxious.
After about 20 minutes, the doctor returned and revealed the diagnosis: basal cell carcinoma. Simmons jokingly responded to the news, "I told him to stop calling me dirty names," to which the doctor chuckled.
Following the light-hearted banter with his dermatologist about potential Botox treatments for facial wrinkles, Simmons proceeded to seek a second opinion from Dr. Ralph Massey, a specialist in skin cancer surgery.
"He explained that he has to burn my skin to remove the cancer cells," Simmons said. "There was no numbing it just had to be done with a small instrument. As he started burning my skin a tear dropped down my cheek. You can't cry during this and he wiped my tear. The burning really hurt my skin. It lasted about 30 minutes."
The fitness coach recounted that after a brief drive around the city, he returned to receive disheartening news — the cancer had not been eliminated.
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Dr. Massey performed another procedure to address the remaining cancerous cells, which proved to be more intense than the initial treatment. Despite the discomfort, Simmons remained resolute, describing how he endured the procedure with gritted teeth.
However, in a subsequent update, Simmons reassured his followers that the third attempt proved successful, with all cancer cells effectively eliminated, leaving behind no visible scar.
The fitness personality, born Milton Teagle Simmons, is best known for his energetic weight-loss programs and exercise videos.
