“Yeah I smoked,” says Desperate Housewives lung cancer victim! Desperate Housewives’ star Kathryn Joosten, 69, who has lung cancer informed PEOPLE about the diagnosis last week. “I am doing great,” but the news “pushed out my legs,” she added. The type of cancer is not known yet.

“Housewives” producers received the news on Monday morning that Kathryn Joosten would have some ‘interruptions’ in her scheduled shootings because their 69-year-old desperate housewife is suffering from a Lung Cancer. Kathy told them to spread the news as ultimately the public is going to know it however.

The American television actress took her first acting classes in 1980s at the age of 42 in Chicago (Illinois). She was born in 1939 (December 20) though but prior to becoming an actress she used to be a psychiatric nurse. In the mid 1990s Kathy started featuring in guest roles in various television series. Roseanne, Home Improvement, Picket Fences, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dharma & Greg, Las Vegas and The Drew Carey Show etc. are few among them.

President of the United States Josiah Bartlet (Martin Sheen)’s adored secretary on “The West Wing” ‘Mrs. Delores Landingham’ fame Kathryn Joosten learnt about her lung cancer during the course of her annual physical exam when it was first diagnosed. Poor Kathy admits that she kept on crying for 4-5 days straight as however, she was not expecting the bombshell anyway especially when she had beaten the disease already in the year 2001.

The recurrence of cancer has on the other hand, determined the actress to speak out more about how to fight it back. She wants to get back in control. “I have to attack” says Kathy to have an effect on disease.

The 2001 diagnosis made Kathy quit smoking the same day despite being a Heavy Smoker. To the questions ‘Did you smoke?’ Kathy always admits that ‘Yes, I did smoke.’ She seems to be very inspired by Betty Davis (the American Funk Rock Singer) who once said it was very glamorous. Kathy puts it on media as well routine life as smoking is just everywhere. Cancer patients are first suspected of smoking than anything else as cancer is coupled with smoking.

She admits that she was addicted to smoking as it was done all around her and plus smokes carry additives blended in their tobacco to make the users immune. However, Kathryn Joosten now wishes that the ‘Stigma has to go away.’

Here is a photo of American television actress, Kathryn Joosten.

Kathryn Joosten