'Desperate Housewives' Star Diagnosed with Lung Cancer

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An Emmy award-winning 'Desperate Housewives' star has learned she has lung cancer, says a new report.

Kathryn Joosten, who has earned two Emmy awards for her role playing Karen McCluskey on the hit ABC show, was diagnosed with lung cancer one week ago and plans to courageously fight it, People.com reports.

"I've got a little hang-up here," the 69-year-old star tells People, "but we're going to handle it and move forward. I'm doing great."

According to People, Joosten won a previous lung cancer battle back in 2001.

"They're totally supportive," she tells People of the show’s producers, who she told the news to Monday morning. "I said, 'If you want to put it in the storyline, do it! Tell anybody you want, because the public's going to know.'"

Joosten says she learned of her new diagnosis as part of an annual physical exam that revealed a spot on her lung.

"I felt like the legs had been pushed out from under me," Joosten tells People. "I completely did not expect it, and was devastated. I was crying for nearly five days straight."

As part of her healing and coping, a brave Joosten says she wants to speak about battling cancer, saying: "To get back in control, I have to attack. I have to make this something that I can have an effect on."

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