The 75-year-old fitness guru has opened up about his skin cancer diagnosis and detailed his journey to fight the disease after alarming fans with a 'dying' message.
- March 20, 2024
AceShowbiz - Richard Simmons, the 75-year-old fitness guru, has revealed that he was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer. The diagnosis came after he noticed a suspicious bump under his right eye.
In a lengthy Facebook post, Simmons described his experience with the diagnosis and subsequent treatment. His dermatologist performed a biopsy and confirmed the cancer. Simmons then visited dermatologic surgeon Dr. Ralph A. Massey, who explained the need to "burn" the cancer cells from his skin.
The treatment involved 30 minutes of burning, which caused Simmons pain. He returned to the doctor's office later that day only to learn that the cancer had not been fully removed. A second treatment was performed, which Simmons said was more intense.
Simmons ended his post with a cliffhanger, promising to share more later.
Earlier this week, Simmons alarmed fans with a vague social media post stating that he was "dying." He later clarified that the post was intended as a reminder to appreciate life fully.
"Sorry many of you have gotten upset about my message today," Simmons wrote. "I am not dying. It was a message about saying how we should embrace every day that we have."
Simmons' health has been a concern for years since he disappeared from the public eye in 2014. A 2022 documentary, "TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons," attributed his absence to knee problems.
