Richard Simmons diagnosed with skin cancer, underwent treatment

Richard Simmons is revealing he was treated for skin cancer.

The fitness coach, 75, in a two-part Facebook post on Tuesday and Wednesday detailed he was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma after seeing a dermatologist about a "strange looking bump" under his right eye.

In his post, Simmons described subsequently seeing a doctor, who "explained that he has to burn my skin to remove the cancer cells." The "burning really hurt my skin" and "lasted about 30 minutes," but it "didn’t get it all out," Simmons said. After the doctor "burned my face again," though, Simmons said he was told the procedure "got all the cancer cells out."

"Before I left, he checked my arms, my back, my chest and my legs," Simmons wrote. "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."

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, and around 3.6 million Americans are diagnosed each year. In 2023, first lady Jill Biden underwent treatment for basal cell carcinoma.

Richard Simmonssays he's 'not dying' after motivational social media post causes 'confusion'

Simmons' health update came after he concerned fans with a post on Monday that opened by declaring he is "dying," before clarifying that he means "we all are dying" because "every day we live we are getting closer to our death." He went on to share tips for enjoying "life to the fullest every single day," including eating a healthy breakfast and exercising.

After this post, Simmons' representative Tom Estey told USA TODAY with "100 percent certainty that Richard is not dying" and is "in fact very healthy and happy." The representative clarified that the "sole purpose of the post was meant to be inspirational." Simmons also apologized, clarifying that he is not dying after "many of you have gotten upset about my message."

In his latest post sharing his skin cancer diagnosis, Simmons, who has remained out of the public eye in recent years, reflected that his experience was "nothing" compared to some people he knows, and he shared that he has "lost a lot of friends" to cancer. But he closed on a positive note by recounting a story of a friend who survived stomach cancer after eight chemotherapy treatments.

"I know some of you reading this have had cancer or have known someone in your life who has had cancer," he wrote. "Promise me you will see your doctor and get a complete check up."

Simmons' post came a week after actress Olivia Munn, 43, revealed she has been privately battling breast cancer and received a double mastectomy. She encouraged her followers to have their breast cancer risk assessment score calculated, as she did.

"I'm lucky," Munn wrote. "We caught it with enough time that I had options. I want the same for any woman who might have to face this one day."

Contributing: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY