Richard Simmons’ March 2024 posts described a basal cell carcinoma (BCC) diagnosis and treatment that he said had happened years earlier—not a new diagnosis in 2024. His account offered a reminder to have persistent or changing skin spots checked, but it does not establish his present health status or the exact year of the episode.
What Richard Simmons said happened
In a retrospective account reported by ABC News on March 20, 2024, Simmons said a strange-looking bump under his right eye persisted despite his applying Neosporin. He contacted his dermatologist, who examined and sampled the spot; Simmons said he was told it was basal cell carcinoma.
Simmons described treatment by dermatologist and skin cancer surgeon Dr. Ralph Massey. He said the area was treated repeatedly and that, at a later visit, Massey told him the cancerous cells had been removed; Simmons said the wound was stitched. The report does not identify the procedure by a technical name, so it would be misleading to label it as Mohs surgery or another specific operation.
Simmons later clarified that the diagnosis had occurred “so many years ago.” He said he shared the story to encourage people to get suspicious spots checked. The exact year of his diagnosis is not established by the reporting, which records Simmons’ account rather than an independent medical record.
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Why the posts caused confusion
The cancer story followed a March 18, 2024 post that some readers understood to mean Simmons himself was dying. He clarified that he was not dying and said the post was a general reflection on mortality. His later cancer posts were about an earlier experience, not evidence of a new diagnosis in March 2024.
What basal cell carcinoma is—and why it matters
Basal cell carcinoma is a common type of skin cancer. It may appear as a slow-growing bump, a sore-like growth, or a rough-feeling patch. It can bleed, crust over, or repeatedly reopen as it grows. These appearances are possible signs, not a way to diagnose cancer at home.
BCC rarely spreads to distant parts of the body and is unlikely to be fatal, but it is not harmless. If untreated, it can grow into nearby muscle, cartilage, or bone, causing significant local damage and making removal more difficult or disfiguring. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises having a growing, bleeding, nonhealing, or changing spot assessed by a dermatologist.
How a suspicious spot is evaluated
A dermatologist examines the spot and may take a biopsy if needed. A laboratory then examines the tissue under a microscope to determine whether cancer is present. Appearance alone cannot confirm BCC. After a diagnosis, a full-body skin examination may also be appropriate, according to the AAD.
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How doctors choose treatment
Treatment depends on factors including the tumor’s depth and location, whether it is new or recurrent, and the patient’s age and general health. The options below are general approaches, not a description of the procedure Simmons received.
| Treatment | How it works | When it may be considered |
|---|---|---|
| Excision | The clinician removes the visible tumor along with surrounding skin, which is examined for cancer at the margins. | Choice depends on the tumor and patient; the AAD describes it as one treatment option. |
| Mohs surgery | The surgeon removes thin layers of tissue and checks each layer’s margins during the procedure, repeating the process until no cancer cells are seen. | May be recommended for certain higher-risk or recurrent tumors and cancers in cosmetically challenging locations, including some on the head and neck. |
| Electrodesiccation and curettage | The clinician scrapes away cancerous tissue and uses an electrical instrument to destroy remaining cells. | May suit selected low-risk tumors in appropriate locations and patients. |
For U.S. context, the Skin Cancer Foundation reported in 2024 that more than 5 million cases of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma combined are treated each year, and approximately 80 percent occur on the head and neck. Those figures cover both cancers; they are not a BCC-only count. The Foundation also describes Mohs as an option for certain higher-risk or recurrent cancers and those in cosmetically challenging locations. See its overview of Mohs surgery.
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When to seek a skin check
- Arrange a dermatologist’s assessment if a spot is growing, bleeding, changing, or not healing.
- Do not assume a bump is harmless because it resembles an irritation or because an over-the-counter ointment did not clear it.
- Do not try to identify or treat skin cancer based on Simmons’ story; a clinician’s examination and, when warranted, biopsy are needed.
To reduce UV exposure, the AAD recommends sun-protection measures, including broad-spectrum sunscreen. Sunscreen does not treat a suspicious spot and should not delay medical evaluation. General prevention guidance is available from the AAD’s sun-protection information.
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