Emmy-winning actress Kathryn Joosten was recently diagnosed with lung cancer, but the 'Desperate Housewives' star is prepared to battle the disease with everything she's got. Joosten, who plays cranky neighbor Mrs. McCluskey on the hit ABC show, tells PEOPLE, "I've got a little hang-up here, but we're going to handle it and move forward. I'm doing great."Hot Photos
'Desperate Housewives' Actress Fighting Second Round of Lung Cancer
Emmy-winning actress Kathryn Joosten was recently diagnosed with lung cancer, but the 'Desperate Housewives' star is prepared to battle the disease with everything she's got. Joosten, who plays cranky neighbor Mrs. McCluskey on the hit ABC show, tells PEOPLE, "I've got a little hang-up here, but we're going to handle it and move forward. I'm doing great."Joosten was a cast member on 'The West Wing' when she won her first battle against cancer in 2001. The actress, 69, informed her 'Housewives' producers that the cancer had resurfaced Monday morning. "They're totally supportive," she says, acknowledging that her shooting schedule might be interrupted by treatment of the disease. "I said, 'If you want to put it in the story line, do it! Tell anybody you want, because the public's going to know.' "
Joosten received the bad news from doctors less than a week ago, after an annual physical exam revealed a spot on her lung. "I felt like the legs had been pushed out from under me," she says. "I completely did not expect it, and was devastated. I was crying for nearly five days straight."
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Celebrity Health Scares
'Desperate Housewives' and 'The West Wing' star Kathryn Joosten is fighting lung cancer. The actress survived a battle with the disease in 2001.
Getty Images
Getty Images
Celebrity Health Scares
'Desperate Housewives' and 'The West Wing' star Kathryn Joosten is battling lung cancer. The actress survived a battle with the disease in 2001.
Getty Images
'ER' veteran Maura Tierney has dropped out of NBC's new series 'Parenthood' in order to battle breast cancer.
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George Clooney suffered a broken hand after he accidentally slammed his appendage in a car door while in Italy.
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Actress Parker Posey has been forced to drop out of her off-Broadway production of 'This' after developing Lyme disease.
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Steven Tyler fell off the stage at an Aerosmith concert in South Dakota on Aug. 5, sending him to the hospital with neck and shoulder injuries.
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Mischa Barton has been discharged from the hospital after being involuntarily placed under psychiatric hold on July 15.
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Adam Yauch, known to most as Beastie Boys rapper MCA, has announced that he has cancer in his salivary gland, forcing the group to cancel their summer tour.
Bryan Bedder, Getty Images
'Passion of the Christ' actor Jim Caviezel suffered cuts and bruises after a man threw a bicycle into the path of his motorcycle. Luckily, the actor was wearing a helmet.
John Shearer, WireImage
'ER' actor Deezer D is recovering from dangerous heart surgery in which his aorta was replaced and a leaky valve was fixed.
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Maura Tierney revealed that she has a tumor in her breast. "I will not know either my exact diagnosis or course of treatment until that surgery is performed. My doctors have all assured me this is a very treatable condition," she said in a statement.
Jeff Vespa, WireImage
Joosten, who regularly speaks about her experience as a cancer survivor, honored a previously scheduled engagement the very next day. The actress gave a talk in Oklahoma City to an audience of 600, and says that she'll continue to speak out as she fights cancer for the second time.
"To get back in control, I have to attack. I have to make this something that I can have an effect on," she says.
Her voice is important, she says, because lung cancer's association with cigarettes causes many to blame the victims for their own suffering. "The first thing everyone says is, 'Did you smoke?' Yeah, I smoked," says Joosten. "I smoked because Betty Davis said it was very glamorous. I smoked because it was seen everywhere and done everywhere. I got addicted because the tobacco companies add additives to their tobacco to make it more addictive. I'm damned mad at all of them. But that stigma has to go away."
Joosten concludes, "No one deserves lung cancer."
Getty Images
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Monday 14 September
By Rose
Kathryn you are a tough cookie and attitude is everything. You go get it girl!!
Reply
Tuesday 15 September
By Sue
Kathryn hit the nail on the head with her assessment of the problem of smoking. People who want to remove smoking images from kids movies (over half of youth report this is why they start), eliminate smoking in parks, playgrounds, restaurants, and other public areas, are accused of impinging on the rights of smokers. All this exposure to smoking is why most kids start (most smokers start before age 21), and they stay addicted because of the manipulation of the nicotine levels. So many lives destroyed by cigarettes, but kids have a better chance today because of the efforts to reduce exposure. Please support these efforts in Kathryn's honor!
Monday 14 September
By Lori
Ms. Joosten, good luck to you in your fight! I know that your positive attitude will carry you through the hardest times. I have enjoyed your work for years...take care of yourself!
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Monday 14 September
By martha
i lovelovelove you kathyrn joosten -- prayers are going up for you -- you are the best!!!
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Monday 14 September
By John
Keep up the good fight. Anyone that has had cancer or had a loved one with it know that first you have to attack it with positive energy. You have to fight like you have never had to before. Keep positive!
Reply
Monday 14 September
By Kerr Avon
Please fact check your articles, especially when doing a story concerning actors; it's BETTE Davis, NOT BETTY.
Reply
Monday 14 September
By judy
picky, picky, picky
Tuesday 15 September
By Bobby G
Thank you for that. Bette would be pleased and I am as incredulous as you that someone who writes for PopEater wouldn't know how to properly spell one of the most famous names in Hollywood history. Jeez, there is even a huge hit POP song named after her! "Bette Davis Eyes" It was Bette who was in the famous scene with the leading man lighting two cigarettes in his mouth at the same time and then handing one to Bette. That was long, long before the cancer connection had been made and while cigarettes were heavily glamourized in Hollywood. I hope Joosten pulls through okay. She's a hoot on "Housewives." She makes a good point about the stigma due to lack of understanding of several generations raised in a culture of cigarettes that lasted for decades.
Tuesday 15 September
By robert
please try desperately to get a like
Tuesday 15 September
By Joe
I am sure Ms Davis had the dignity and grace to be more concerned about someone fighting lung cancer, than how the last letter of her first name is spelled in an article written about someone battling lung cancer !! Good luck to you Ms. Joosten. I am rooting for you.
Tuesday 15 September
By jan
Are you just your... Average MORON!!!
Who gives a Crap!!!
The lady has Cancer!
Say a prayer...God Bless!!!
Monday 14 September
By Pam
Kathyrn Joosten Is one of my favorite characters on Desperate Housewives and was on West Wing. She's a great actress and seems like a great person. I pray she'll win this battle with lung cancer, too. My prayers are going out to her.
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Tuesday 15 September
By mrkoe
Best wishes to you for a full recovery. I am doing my 5th battle with cancer in 17 years.... Keep seeing yourself as the winner of the war.
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Tuesday 15 September
By nettio45
I love her character on the shows she's been on. She sounds very courageous and someone you can look up to. This past week has been full of people who don't deserve any recognition or press they are given. I truly hope this strong, admirable woman wins this terrible battle called cancer.
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Tuesday 15 September
By Cheryl
Ms. Joosten: I wish you all the luck in the world in fighting your illness. You are one of my favorite actors on Desperate Housewives. In fact, my kids (grownups) and I were recently saying how much we liked your character! We are praying for your quick recovery. Sincerely, Cheryl and family
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Tuesday 15 September
By MJ
KATHRYN IS GOING TO KICK THIS.....SHE IS A STRONG WOMAN! GOT TO GIVE YOU CREDIT WITH YOUR HONESTY, I KNOW, IT'S NOT SO COOL ANYMORE. I LEARNED FROM MY PARENTS AND TV....THE BEST INFLUENCES,EH.
PRAYERS FOLLW YOU ALWAYS!
MARY
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Tuesday 15 September
By racendirt
Kathryn's a wonderful actress. She has her own style and definitely won't get lost in the crowd. God bless her and I'll keep her in my prayers.
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Tuesday 15 September
By rob mack
You are right about the smoking stigma; it doesn;t matter if you smoked for 25 yrs. or 25 days; your diagnosis will be "you smoked" and drs. never seem to look past that. No one deserves cancer or lung disease. Worse yet, get a genetic disease, similar to a smoking related disease, and still, the bottome line is, "it was caused by smoking".
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Tuesday 15 September
By Eirodann
Keep your chin up! We're all rooting for you!
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Tuesday 15 September
By Robin
I will remember Ms. Joosten in my mediations and prayers. My heart aches for her.
Sharing the story line, making Mrs. McCluskey have lung cancer too, seems like a good idea in order to raise awareness and to explain Joosten's inevitable changing appearance.
But I would think that would be emotionally rough on her and, to a lesser extent, her co-actors to have to live with the knowledge of this illness and the suffering in real time AND in 'on-set' time.
Whatever the producers decide, I will continue to watch, but I anticipate a bittersweet experience.
Let me mention that, although I have enjoyed every on screen minute of Ms. Joosten's character, one of the most enjoyable DH story lines for me was when Mrs. McCluskey and her sister, played by Lily Tomlin, became detectives. I had hoped there would be a spin off with them in a 'Murder She Wrote' type of drama infused with humor. I'll look forward to more humor from Mrs. McCluskey in the future.
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