A few months ago I interviewed Desperate Housewives actress Katherine Joosten about her work as a spokesperson for Lung Cancer Profiles. Her courage and tenacity were strong. A two-time lung cancer survivor, Katherine was determined to get people to stop creating a stigma against people who have lung cancer—believing that the person must have brought it on themselves by smoking. And I found that when I mentioned to people that Katherine had lung cancer, almost every one of them asked if she smoked. Yet a large percentage of lung cancer patients have never had a cigarette. People need to stop asking that question!

Katherine was determined to educate as many people as possible about how knowing the molecular profile of the cancer helps doctors devise an individualized plan based on the genetic makeup of a person’s tumor rather than using a general approach. It can minimize getting unnecessary treatment with bad side effects that doesn’t work and targets what’s most likely to work best. Because of the stigma of lung cancer, many celebrities that have it keep silent as they don’t want to be blamed for having cancer. Lung Cancer Profiles has lots of info on that.

This two-time Emmy®-award winning actress didn’t care about that. She just wanted to help people. So it was no surprise when her Mrs. McClusky character on Desperate Housewives got cancer. She was courageous and feisty to the end on the show, as I’d bet Katherine was in real life. I was so taken with her when we met. Her spirit was strong and she refused to feel like a victim.

Katherine Joosten passed away over the weekend, not long after the Mrs. McClusky character passed away in the last episode of Desperate Housewives.

I cried when I heard the news. She was a very gracious, special lady! I greatly hope that her work with Lung Cancer Profiles will live on and that others will run with the torch she carried. If you know of anyone who has lung cancer, please send them to Lung Cancer Profiles and keep Katherine’s legacy alive. Help spread the word. It will help save lives!

May Katherine Joosten rest in peace!
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