Richard Simmons reveals skin cancer diagnosis and treatment

WASHINGTON (TND) — Richard Simmons is opening up about his skin cancer diagnosis.

The fitness celebrity wrote on Facebook Tuesday about getting medical care for a“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," he added. "It was time to call my dermatologist."

Simmons went on to say how he began to get nervous during an exam by his doctor before hearing the "C word."

"He comes back about 20 minutes later and says the C word. You have cancer," he wrote. "I asked him what kind of cancer and he said. Basel Cell Carcinoma. I told him to stop calling me dirty names. He laughed."

Shortly after, Simmons said he saw a specialist to remove the cancer cells from his face but the first attempt did not work and the doctor had to "burn his face again."

"After driving around the city, I went back to some sad news. I didn’t get it all out," Simmons wrote. "He burned my face again. This time was worse than beforeIt was deeper. I did not cry this time but I did grit my teeth."

On the third attempt, Simmons said the doctor was able to get all of the cancer cells out.

"Well the third time was a charm. With a smile on his face, he said, 'We got all the cancer cells out.' I gave him a hug," Simmons continued. "We are not done yet I have to stitch your face up. It took about 45 Minutes and I was done. 'I don’t want to see you back here again.'"

He did not say when he received the diagnosis.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer and often appears as changes in the skin, such as a growth or a sore that won't heal, according to the Mayo Clinic.

To help prevent BCC it is recommended to avoid the sun during the middle of the day, wear sunscreen year-round, wear protective clothing, avoid tanning beds and check skin regularly and report changes to a doctor.

The news comes after the fitness guru worried fans Monday with a cryptic message on social media about "dying."

"I have some news to tell you. Please don’t be sad. I am . dying.," he wrote. "The truth is we all are dying. Every day we live we are getting closer to our death."

He later apologized and said the message was about "how we should embrace every day that we have."

"Sorry many of you have gotten upset about my message today. Even the press has gotten in touch with me," the celebrity wrote on X. "I am not dying."