Guiding Light star Kim Zimmer, 69, reveals she was diagnosed with breast cancer six months ago and underwent a mastectomy

Kim Zimmer announced six months ago during a performance for a that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer Stand up against cancer streaming event on Thursday.

The Guiding Light alum, 69, got emotional as she briefly opened up about the disease during a discussion on the segment Daytime Stands Up: A Benefit for Stand Up To Cancer – We All Have a Story.

On the CBS soap opera, her character Reva Shayne – which earned her four Daytime Emmy Awards – was also diagnosed with breast cancer during episodes that aired in 2006.

“On November 6th, I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Zimmer, also part of the chat along with fellow co-star Tina Sloan, explained, per TMZ.

She went on to praise the love and support she has received, saying, “And if I don’t have such a great circle of friends, not to mention my husband, AC Weary.”

On the CBS soap opera, her character Reva Shayne – earning four Daytime Emmy Awards – was also diagnosed with breast cancer during episodes that aired in 2006; seen in 1986 in New York

“And my family… Rachel, Max and Jake calling me every day, I would have fallen apart,” she continued, referring to her children.

She tied the knot with AC in 1981 and the couple share their three children. Jake has followed in his parents’ acting footsteps and has also starred in projects like Animal Kingdom and It Chapter Two.

“But because of that circle that I have, great doctors, early detection…I did have a mastectomy,” Kim then revealed during the stream.

However, she gave a positive update, explaining that she would receive her ‘last’ chemotherapy infusion later this month, on Tuesday, May 21.

Zimmer also jokingly talked about reducing breast size after surgery, saying, “Now I have really nice C’s instead of sagging D’s.”

Elsewhere during the stream, the star further spoke about the support from her close family and friends People.

“It’s so important that you find a support system. Find someone you can talk to honestly and truthfully [who] will listen to you.’

“I’m a tough girl and I handled this the way anyone would expect me to,” the Bleeding Love actress added.

“On November 6, I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Zimmer stated emotionally, along with fellow co-star Tina Sloan, also in the chat, per TMZ; seen in 2015 in LA

“Not to mention my husband, AC Weary, and my family Rachel, Max and Jake, who call me every day, I would have fallen apart,” she continued, also referring to her children; seen with Weary above

She also encouraged checks, saying: “I’m here to say: early detection, early detection, early detection, early detection. Get your mammograms, get them quickly.”

While Kim has shared the news of her diagnosis, her character on Guiding Light notably kept the disease under wraps.

‘I can’t imagine getting a diagnosis like that and not wanting the person you love most in the world to be next to you. The fans responded to that too. It caused a lot of drama.’

Earlier this year, in February, both Zimmer and her son Jake sat down for a joint interview People to discuss their latest project they starred in together, titled Bleeding Love.

The film also cast Ewan McGregor and his daughter Clara McGregor – and initially premiered in March 2023 at the SXSW Film Festival under the title You Sing Loud, I Sing Louder.

However, during the joint conversation a few months ago, Kim did not bring up the diagnosis of breast cancer.

Instead, she talked about working with her son, Jake, on the same project — even though they didn’t share much screen time together. In one of her scenes, he was seen in the background at a party making balloons.

“I remember seeing him in the background of our shoot working with a bunch of these little kids, and he was so engaged and so good with those kids and stayed with them every take.”

She added, “And I remember being so proud of the fact that he was in it and he supported the background of that scene with no questions asked.”

‘I can’t imagine getting a diagnosis like that and not wanting the person you love most in the world to be next to you. The fans responded to that too… It created great drama,” she said; seen in 1990 in New York

Earlier this year, in February, both Zimmer and her son Jake sat down for a joint interview with People to discuss their latest project they co-starred in, titled Bleeding Love; son Jake seen above in 2019 in Beverly Hills

Kim took on the role of Reva Shayne on the soap opera from 1983 to 1990. After a five-year hiatus, she notably returned in 1995 until the show’s end in 2009; seen in 1988 in the series

The premise of Bleeding Love is: ‘A father takes his estranged daughter on a road trip in an attempt to get her out of trouble. Along the way, they meet all kinds of strangers as their tense relationship is tested,” Per said IMDB.

Before appearing in bigger film projects, Jake made his debut in the acting world by starring in Guiding Light alongside his mother when he was just a teenager.

“It was the first time I was going to be in front of a camera, in front of the lights and I was going to be at my own mother’s show,” he remembers of the special moment.

Weary continued, “I remember coming on set and seeing my mother, and I felt so comfortable because she created this really comforting space for me. I will always remember that.’

Kim took on the role of Reva Shayne on the soap opera from 1983 to 1990. After a five-year hiatus, she notably returned in 1995 until the show’s end in 2009.