“DESPERATE Housewives” actress Kathryn Joosten has been diagnosed with lung cancer, her publicist reported yesterday. According to Thomas DeLorenzo, a CAT-scan revealed that Joosten, 69, who plays Karen McCluskey on the ABC hit comedy, has cancer in the left lung.
In the fall of 2001, cancer was discovered in Joosten’s right lung and she had part of her lung removed. She did not undergo chemotherapy and radiation.
She has informed the “Desperate Housewives” producers of her diagnosis, and they say the show will work around her.
Joosten, a retired nurse, is going to be discussing treatment options with her doctors in the next few days. She also plans to speak publicly about lung cancer, because she believes the disease does not receive as much combined funding as breast, prostate and colorectal cancer.
She will be featured in the premiere of “Desperate Housewives” on Sept. 27 at 9 p.m.