It was through a video conference with her doctor when Constance Zimmer (55), one of the stars of Entourage and Boston Legal, experienced one of the worst days of her life. It happened on March 13th when the specialist gave her the results of the biopsy via a Zoom conference: "You have ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), also known as stage 0 breast cancer."
Seven months later, the actress announced on her Instagram, in honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, that she has won the battle. But the process, as in all these cases, is tough. In her case, she had to juggle treatments with filming. She didn't tell anyone, except her loved ones. "It's the biggest secret I've ever kept," she points out.
"The emotional toll afterward was overwhelming at times, as I had to consult with many more doctors than I would have liked. I felt my options were limited; most suggested the quickest way to remove the mass as soon as possible: a mastectomy," she explained. Faced with that unanimous conclusion, a kind of rebellion took hold of her. "What if that's not what I want?" she asked herself. "What if instead I want to save my breast?" she concluded.
After an arduous search, she was fortunate to find a doctor who suggested a lumpectomy, a breast-conserving surgery that removes the tumor and a small margin of healthy tissue around it, keeping most of the breast intact. "Three surgeries in three consecutive weeks were necessary, but (my doctor) did it, saved my breast, and it looks great!" the enthusiastic actress emphasized.
The surgical process coincided with the promotional tour of Love Story, the miniseries that portrayed the romance between John Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, where she played Anne Marie Messina, the mother of the latter who passed away in 2007 at the age of 67. "After the surgeries, I received radiation therapy while celebrating my Emmy nomination," she explained. She received the honor for Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries, Anthology Series, or Movie for her role as Messina.
Constance confessed to The Hollywood Reporter that "while watching the series, I experienced a new pain that I began to process and continue to process daily," and added: "I cried again for the terrible loss of my mother. Seeing myself, dealing with grief and allowing myself to feel it all became cathartic."
Throughout, the German-born actress had the support and love of her husband, director and screenwriter Russ Lamoureux, whom she met at her 35th birthday party after a mutual friend had been trying to introduce them for six years, and of their only daughter, Colette Zoe (18). Two years after her birth, the couple got married in October 2010 in Los Angeles.
After making the confession, the actress wants to raise awareness among women so they "don't have to wait for symptoms to get all possible check-ups" and has assured that she is currently "grateful to be cancer-free and I thank @cathrinewhite for photographing me for the first time since my diagnosis, celebrating what my body has allowed me to overcome in the last seven months: a mix of pure shock and fear along with pure joy and gratitude."
"From hospital gowns to the glamour of the Emmys, it was an incredible experience," she wrote alongside the carousel of photos shared on Instagram.