‘Guiding Light’ Star Kim Zimmer Reveals Cancer Diagnosis

Guiding Light star Kim Zimmer has announced that she has developed breast cancer. This is sadly the same disease her character from the soap opera dealt with as well.

Here is what you need to know about Zimmer’s cancer diagnosis.

Kim Zimmer Announces She Has Breast Cancer

Kim Zimmer, who played Reva Shayne, on The Guiding Light, has let her fans know that she has contracted breast cancer. She made the announcement during “Daytime Stands Up: A Benefit for Stand Up To Cancer – We All Have a Story” on Thursday. She said she received the diagnosis last year (via TMZ).

Kim said that she had a mastectomy. She expects to have her last chemotherapy infusion later this month. She also made a joke about the cancer, saying she is happy with her new breast size. It was a way to lighten up the mood when it comes to her scary announcement. Kim then asked for women to get regular checkups and thanked her family for their ongoing support during this hard time.

Zimmer is a four-time Daytime Emmy Award winner. Kim starred in The Doctors as Nola Aldrich (1979-1982) and One Life to Live as Echo DiSavoy (1983, 2010-2011) before finding her most popular role on Guiding Light as Reva Shayne (1983-1990, 1995-2009). She won her Daytime Emmy Awards in 1985, 1987, 1990, and 2006). She also received nominations in seven other years.

Kim Zimmer’s Reva Shayne Also Had Breast Cancer

Kim Zimmer’s character on Guiding Light also contracted cancer. Reva learned she had cancer in her second run on the show. She learned she had breast cancer in 2006 and she dealt with the disease for the next two seasons. While Kim has let everyone know about her cancer, her character hid it on the show.

As with most soap operas, soap characters have nine lives. Reva was presumed dead from 1990 to 1995 and again in 1998. However, when the breast cancer storyline started, that was different as it was a real-life disease and soaps often treat these storylines respectfully.

Reva’s cancer diagnosis sent her through denial and hesitancy before she finally started treatment. She hid this from her husband at the time, Josh Lewis (Robert Newman), as well as the rest of Springfield until she ended up on her deathbed. However, she survived the cancer and finally left the show with Josh and her son Colin as they left Springfield forever.

Kim said she never considered hiding it in real life, but said it was good TV drama. Kim is married to A.C. Weary. They have been married since 1981 and have three kids together.

Please help send your well-wishes to Kim Zimmer following her cancer diagnosis in the comments below.

Shawn S. Lealos has been a freelance writer for over 25 years and is a voting member of the Oklahoma Film Critics Circle. He is also a published author with a book about the Stephen King Dollar Baby Filmmakers.

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