Richard Simmons has been diagnosed with skin cancer. The reclusive fitness guru revealed the news in a lengthy statement on Tuesday, two days after he posted a concerning message about ‘dying.’
“Mirror mirror on the wall what’s that blemish which is so small,” Simmons, 75, began in a lengthy Facebook status. “There was this strange looking bump under my right eye. I had a tube of Neosporin which I would put on in the morning and the evening . . . it was still there. It was time to call my 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,” he continued. “Now I am getting a little bit nervous. He comes back about 20 minutes later and says the C-word.”
Fitness guru Richard Simmons revealed Tuesday that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer. Rodrigo Vaz/FilmMagic Simmons, 75, made the shocking revelation in a lengthy Facebook post. Facebook/ Richard SimmonsSimmons attempted to lighten the mood by telling fans he told his doctor to “stop calling me dirty names” when he was told he had basal cell carcinoma.
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“You have to go to a cancer doctor right away,” Simmons wrote. “But now that you are here I suggest you put some Botox in your forehead lines and your smile lines and let’s pump up those cheeks of yours…..I patted him on his hand and said, ‘Not today doctor.’ ”
Simmons added that as soon as he got home, he contacted Santa Monica, California-based Dr. Ralph A. Massey and scheduled an appointment.
Upon arriving at Massey’s practice, Simmons “said hello to all of these people who had skin cancer as well” and revealed he “was shocked to see all of the skin cancers that they had.”
He added: “Some had cancer on top of their heads… their face … and their neck.”
According to the TV personality, Massey explained that he had to “burn my skin to remove the cancer cells” and that Simmons would not receive a numbing agent. Harry Langdon/Getty Images “As he started burning my skin a tear dropped down my cheek,” Simmons recalled of the procedure. “You can’t cry during this and he wiped my tear. The burning really hurt my skin.” Denise Truscello/WireImageAfter being called back, Simmons joked that the doctor “smelled like a deli” but he didn’t care. “I just needed his help.”
Massey went on to burn Simmons’ skin to remove the cancer cells and didn’t receive a numbing agent.
“As he started burning my skin a tear dropped down my cheek,” Simmons recalled. “You can’t cry during this and he wiped my tear. The burning really hurt my skin.”
The fitness guru concluded the post by stating the skin cancer surgeon had sent him out for 90-minute break, followed by the cliffhanger ending: “… to be continued …” theweightsaint/InstagranSimmons was later forced to undergo a second round of the procedure, which apparently was “deeper” and “was worse than before.”
Simmons’ revelation comes immediately after the reclusive fitness star posted another concerning message on Facebook that stated he was “dying.” X/Richard SimmonsThe Post reached out to Simmons for comment.
Several fans sent well-wishes to him.
“Hope he got it all,” one fan wrote. “As I always say Richard…. I loved you then, I love you now & I’ll love you forever.”
The message goes on to explain that the reason behind the post was to make people “enjoy your life to the fullest every single day.” theweightsaint/Instagram“Thank God you went to the dermatologist,” commented a second person. “I can’t wait to read the rest of this! Love and prayers coming your way!”
“Hoping the next chapter is that it was all removed and you’re fine,” a third person wrote. “My thoughts are with you. I’ve always thought you were a very special person in this world and I’m happy to find you sharing things on Facebook.”
Simmons’ revelation came days after he posted an alarming message on Facebook about “dying.”
The “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” star later posted an apology message on the social media site. TheWeightSaint/X“I have some news to tell you. Please don’t be sad. I am …. dying,” the message began. “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.”
Simmons went on to give several diet tips and exercise ideas, and concluded with Tim McGraw’s 2004 hit “Live Like You Were Dying.”
Tom Estey, Simmons’ publicist, told The Post, “I can confirm with 100% certainty that Richard is not dying. He’s, in fact, very healthy and happy. The sole purpose of the post was meant to be inspirational.”
The “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” star later posted an apology message on the social media site.
“Sorry many of you have gotten upset about my message today,” he wrote on Facebook. “Even the press has gotten in touch with me. I am not dying.”
“It was a message about saying how we should embrace every day that we have,” Simmons concluded. “Sorry for this confusion.”
