Constance Zimmer has revealed she was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year, telling her followers she underwent treatment privately while continuing to work.
The 55-year-old actress shared the news on Instagram on Sunday, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She said she was told on March 13 that she had DCIS, which she described as “Stage 0 breast cancer”.
“The silence was deafening,” Zimmer wrote, explaining that she had been away from home when she received the diagnosis and then had to return to tell her husband and daughter in person.
She said the diagnosis brought an overwhelming period of medical consultations, with several doctors suggesting a mastectomy as the quickest way to remove the mass.
Zimmer ultimately chose a lumpectomy after consulting breast surgeon Dr Kristi Funk. “She was the first doctor to make me feel like what I wanted mattered and that made me weep with joy,” she said.
The actress said she underwent three operations over three consecutive weeks. Her surgeon was able to save her breast, after which Zimmer also received radiation treatment.
Throughout her treatment, Zimmer continued a public press tour for Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette while keeping her diagnosis private. She was also celebrating an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, following her role as Ann Messina Freeman in three episodes of the series.
Zimmer said she is now cancer free and described the past seven months as a period of “pure shock and fear alongside pure joy and gratitude”.
She added that she and Heidi would discuss her experience with Dr Funk on their podcast, Talk Fifty to Me, with the episode due to be released on October 6. Zimmer said she hoped speaking publicly would encourage women not to wait until they have symptoms before getting checked.
