A few days after causing his fans to worry due to a concerning Facebook post that delved into the deeper themes of life and mortality, Richard Simmons displayed remarkable courage by candidly discussing his health struggle. The 75-year-old took to his Facebook page and shared details about how he got his skin cancer diagnosis.
“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 fitness guru wrote. “Now I am getting a little bit nervous. He comes back about 20 minutes later and says the C word. ‘You have cancer.’ ”
Richard Simmons shares details of his skin cancer diagnosis
Simmons explained was directed to consult with Dr. Ralph A. Massey, an esteemed specialist renowned for treating skin cancer. During his visits to Dr. Massey’s practice, he explained that he was surprised to encounter numerous individuals with the same medical condition.
RELATED: Rarely Seen Richard Simmons Claims He’s ‘Dying’ In Concerning Post
“I was shocked to see all of the skin cancers that they had. Some had cancer on top of their heads, their face, and their neck,” Simmons added. “The nurse said, ‘Dr. would like to see you now, Richard.’ I slowly walked in this pristine room and Dr. Massey came in to greet me. ‘I have to apologize I just finished eating lox, bagels, and onions.’ He smelled like a deli. But I didn’t care, I just needed his help.”
KGC-146/starmaxinc.com
The 75-year-old also provided insights into his medical treatment experience. He revealed that after being evaluated by the physician, he was prescribed a treatment plan that involved undergoing a regimen that was quite discomforting. “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. The burning really hurt my skin,” Simmons admitted. “It lasted about 30 minutes.”
09/19/2013 1st Annual “Legends Beyond” Gala held in Beverly Hills, CA Photo by Kazuki Hirata / HollywoodNewsWire.net
Simmons added that although the procedure did not show immediate results, following the third attempt, it produced exceptionally positive outcomes. “I went back to some sad news. He burned my face again. This time was worse than before, It was deeper. I did not cry this time, but I did grit my teeth,” he confessed. “Well, the third time was a charm. With a smile on [the doctor’s] face, he said, ‘We got all the cancer cells out.’ I gave him a hug. Before I left, he checked my arms, my back, my chest, and my legs. I had a little Frankenstein under my right eye for a while. He gave me some cream to put on it, which I did religiously. Because of his fine work, I don’t have a scar. ”