Housewives star has lung cancer

Joosten began her acting career at the age of 42

Desperate Housewives actress Kathryn Joosten is facing a battle with lung cancer for the second time.

Joosten, who plays Mrs McCluskey in the TV drama, told US magazine People she was "devastated" on first hearing the diagnosis but was now "doing great".

The actress, 69, was told the news at an annual check-up earlier this month.

Joosten had been in remission following her first diagnosis in 2001. She stopped smoking the day she was told she had cancer.

"My other goal is to try to erase some of the stigma of lung cancer," she told People.

"The first thing everyone says is: 'Did you smoke?'"

Late starter

"Yeah, I smoked. I smoked because Bette Davis said it was very glamorous. I smoked because it was seen everywhere and done everywhere," she said.

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"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 also played Mrs Landingham, the secretary to Martin Sheen's President Bartlett in The West Wing.

She has won two Emmy awards for her portrayal of nosy neighbour Karen McCluskey in Desperate Housewives - one in 2005 and one in 2008.

She only began acting at the age of 42 and moved to Hollywood in 1995, when she began landing small roles in dramas such as Family Matters.