Published Mar 20, 2024

‘Mirror Mirror On The Wall What’s That Blemish Which Is So Small?’: Fitness Guru Richard Simmons, 75, Reveals Skin Cancer Diagnosis After ‘Strange’ Bump On His Face Turned Out To Be Cancerous— Spotting the Signs of Basal Cell Carcinoma

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Recognizing Basal Cell Carcinoma

Energetic fitness guru Richard Simmons, 75, who rose to fame “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” workout videos has revealed he was recently diagnosed with a type of skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma after getting a “strange” blemish on his face checked.
Simmons was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma (BCC), a highly curable but still serious skin cancer. It is also the most common form of skin cancer.
It is important to treat BCC early because, while it is highly curable and typically slow-growing, lesions can grow and become disfiguring and dangerous.
BCC can often be overlooked as a pimple or skin tag. The lesions can look like open sores, red patches, pink growths, shiny bumps, scars or growths with slightly elevated, rolled edges and/or a central indentation. These spots may ooze, crust, itch or bleed.
“A positive attitude is really important,” Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, previously told SurvivorNet. “My patients who thrive, even with stage 4 cancer, from the time that they, about a month after they’re diagnosed, I kind of am pretty good at seeing who is going to be OK.”

Eccentric and energetic fitness guru Richard Simmons, 75, who rose to fame “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” workout videos and gym “Slimmons” in Beverly Hills, California, took to social media this week to reveal his recent skin cancer diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma.

Simmons, author of the New York Times Best Seller “Never Say Diet,” found out he had skin cancer after getting a “strange” blemish on his face checked, and now he’s sharing his story to inspire others to stay on top of their health and check for cancer.

In a lengthy Facebook post shared this week, Simmons wrote, “Mirror mirror on the wall what’s that blemish which is so small? There was this strange looking bump under my right eye. I had a tube of Neosporin which I would put on I 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. Now I am getting a little bit nervous. He comes back about 20 minutes later and says the C word. You have cancer. I asked him what kind of cancer and he said. Basel Cell Carcinoma. I told him to stop calling me dirty names. He laughed.

He continued, “You have to go to a cancer doctor right away. 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.’ When I got home I called Dr Ralph A. Massey who was from England 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 that they had. Some had cancer on top of their heads…their face …and their neck.

“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.”

Simmons recounted his doctor telling him that his skin needed to be burned in order to remove the cancer cells, without any numbing medicine and done with a small tool.

Looking back on the experience, Simmons explained, “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. ‘Come back in an hour and a half and see if I got it all out.’

“After driving around the city, I went back to some sad news. I didn’t get it all out. 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. ‘Come back in another hour and a half.; ….to be continued…”

It’s unclear whether all the cancer cells have been removed, but Simmons is certainly maintaining his upbeat attitude and optimism as he wrote in a followup post, “Stop …… And smell the flowers,” alongside his song “Flower Power.”

Stop……. And smell the flowers. https://t.co/XllqClJtVP
— Richard Simmons (@TheWeightSaint) March 20, 2024

His cancer diagnosis announcement comes shortly after Simmons shared a worrying post telling his fans “Please don’t be sad. I am ….dying.” However, he ultimately revealed that the post, in which he stated, “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,” was shared simply to urge his followers to live life to the fullest.

Prior to his diagnosis reveal, he wrote on Facebook and Twitter, “Sorry many of you have gotten upset about my message today. 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. Sorry for this confusion. Love, Richard.”

Sorry many of you have gotten upset about my message today. 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. Sorry for this confusion.
Love,
Richard
— Richard Simmons (@TheWeightSaint) March 18, 2024

The earlier post he was referring to read, “Why am I telling you this? [about him ‘dying’] 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. Start with a healthy breakfast. Do you like oatmeal…. Whole wheat toast ..eggs once or twice a week Fresh fruit or half of an English muffin?

“Then there is lunch. How about a nice salad? Don’t eat your dinner too late. Combine your protein with a starch and a few vegetables. And sure, once in a while, have dessert. One healthy day of eating will lead to the next…and the next. Every day that you are alive you have got to move. Whether it is standing or sitting you have got move your body every day. Start with stretching then cardio and strength.”

He concluded, “I have a lot of workout videos on YouTube that you can use. Or maybe you have some videos at home. And before you go to bed do a little stretching. Stretch your neck. Your shoulders….and your arms…and dont forget your legs. Do some circles with your ankles. Point and flex your feet and I promise that you will have a better night’s sleep.

“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. If you have time I want you to listen to a terrific song. It is by Tim McGraw it is called ‘Live Like You Were Dying.’ Live today and don’t forget to pray. Love, Richard.”

How Dangerous Is Basal Cell Carcinoma?

Basal cell carcinoma, or BCC, is the most common form of skin cancer. It develops when basal cells, one of three main types of cells in the top layer of the skin, grow abnormally or uncontrollably. In the United States, an estimated 3.6 million cases of BCC are diagnosed each year.

BCC is unique because it tends to grow slowly. This means it generally causes minimal damage and is usually curable when caught and treated early. Still, untreated BCC lesions can grow and become disfiguring and dangerous.

“Untreated BCCs can become locally invasive, grow wide and deep into the skin and destroy skin, tissue and bone,” the Skin Cancer Foundation website says. “The longer you wait to get treatment, the more likely it is that the BCC will recur, sometimes repeatedly.

“There are some highly unusual, aggressive cases when BCC spreads to other parts of the body. In even rarer instances, this type of BCC can become life-threatening.”

Mohs Surgery Removes Skin Cancer With Smaller Incisions and More Certainty

There are some “highly unusual, aggressive cases when BCC spreads to other parts of the body.” Rarer cases of aggressive BCC can even become life-threatening.

Still, BCCs rarely spread beyond the original tumor site. But the longer treatment is delayed, the more likely it is that the BCC will recur, sometimes repeatedly. That’s why we stress the importance of treating BCC and treating it early. This can prove difficult, however, because BCC can often disguise itself as a pimple or skin tag.

The Skin Cancer Foundation says they can look like open sores, red patches, pink growths, shiny bumps, scars or growths with slightly elevated, rolled edges and/or a central indentation. The spots can ooze, crust, itch or bleed, and spots on people with darker skin can be pigmented (brown in color).

If you ever find yourself noticing a spot on your skin that seems abnormal for you, make sure to bring it up with your doctor.

BCC can vary from person to person, so it’s always a good idea to pay attention to your skin, confront your doctor about anything questionable and prioritize checkups with a dermatologist.

Five Ways to Protect Yourself From Skin Cancer

Skin cancer can happen to anyone and develop at any time of year. It tends to occur on parts of the body that see more sun like the face, head, neck and arms, but it can also develop anywhere, including places like the bottoms of your feet, your genitals and the inside of your mouth.

If you’re wanting to minimize your risk of developing skin cancer, check out these tips from Dr. Dendy Engelman, a board certified dermatologic surgeon at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue.

Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Skin From Skin Cancer

Avoid sun during peak hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wear a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect the tops of our heads, the tops of our ears and the delicate area around the eye.
Wear at least SPF 30 sunscreen and make sure to reapply every two hours or after excessive sweating or swimming.
Have yearly skin checks (with a professional) because it’s difficult to evaluate areas all over the body.
Avoid tanning beds. There are no “good” tanning beds, and they can significantly increase your risk of skin cancer.

In addition, make sure to prioritize skin protection all year round. People often focus on things like sunscreen use solely in the summer, but our experts know skin damage can happen at any time of the year.

Which Sunscreen Should I Choose To Prevent Cancer?

“My patients ask me all the time, ‘Do I really need sunscreen every day, all year round?’ The answer is yes,” Dr. Engelman told SurvivorNet.

“People think they only need sun protection when they’re in the bright, warm sunshine. But the reality is, we can get sun damage at any time throughout the year, even in the cold, wintry months. Think about when you go skiing. That’s a very high risk. Even though it’s cold, our skin should be protected.”

3 Skin Cancer Myths, Busted: Can One Bad Sun Burn Cause Cancer?

Skin Cancer Checklist:

In between doctor visits, doing regular self-checks on your skin is also important to find skin cancer early. Again, particularly if you’re high-risk.

Dr. Cecilia Larocca, a dermatologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, recommends looking at your skin once a month for anything suspicious and using the acronym ABCDE as a checklist:

Asymmetrical moles: if you drew a line straight down the center of the mole, would the sides match
Borders: irregular, jagged, not smooth; can also stand for bleeding
Colors: multiple distinct colors in the mole
Diameter: larger than 6mm, about the size of a pencil head eraser
Evolution: This may be the most important, anything that is changing over time such as gaining color, losing color, painful, itching, or changing shape.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

If you are diagnosed with skin cancer, you may have some questions for your doctor. SurvivorNet suggests some of the following to help you on your cancer journey.

What type of skin cancer do I have?
What treatment options exist for this type of cancer?
Will insurance cover this treatment?
Would treatment through a clinical trial make sense to me?
What resources exist to help manage my anxiety because of this diagnosis?

Sharing a Cancer Diagnosis

“People should do what feels right to them,” psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik previously told SurvivorNet.

It takes time to cope with a diagnosis, and part of that process includes how to talk to other people about what you are going through. Some people are more open about their diagnosis for reasons that may include showing others battling cancer that they are not alone. However, other people prefer to keep their diagnosis close to the vest to avoid unwanted judgment from others.

“Going through a cancer diagnosis, through treatment, is often a very long process. And then, if you include after treatment ends where a person is in a kind of limbo, waiting to see if they are clear and get their scans. It may be three months or six months into the future. People are still dealing with uncertainty at that point.”

Additionally, grief is known to “come in waves” and never fully leave you after a loved one has died. To grieve is to have fully loved someone, and that’s a beautiful thing, but the process of grief, can be fulling of missing, longing, and sadness.

Coping with grief after the loss of a loved one, or after a diagnosis of a disease like cancer, can be helped by seeing a psychiatrist, counselor, or oncological social worker.

Dealing With Grief After a Cancer Diagnosis

You don’t have to suffer through your grief alone. Seek outside support when you’ve lost someone close to you.

The Power of Positivity and Good Mental Health

It’s wonderful to see the influential Richard Simmons staying positive through tough times as, in some cases, SurvivorNet experts say, a positive attitude may improve your prognosis.

WATCH: What Kind of Patients Will Maintain a Positive Attitude Following a Cancer Diagnosis?

“A positive attitude is really important,” Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, previously told SurvivorNet.

“My patients who thrive, even with stage 4 cancer, from the time that they, about a month after they’re diagnosed, I kind of am pretty good at seeing who is going to be OK. Now doesn’t that mean I’m good at saying that the cancer won’t grow,” he said.

“But I’m pretty good at telling what kind of patients are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with a bad, bad disease. And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life.”