{"id":2541,"date":"2012-01-05T12:01:55","date_gmt":"2012-01-05T17:01:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/lessonsfromarecoveringdoormat\/?p=2541"},"modified":"2012-01-07T13:24:47","modified_gmt":"2012-01-07T18:24:47","slug":"why-actress-kathryn-joosten-desperate-housewives-helps-lung-cancer-patients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lessonsfromarecoveringdoormat\/2012\/01\/why-actress-kathryn-joosten-desperate-housewives-helps-lung-cancer-patients.html","title":{"rendered":"Why Actress Kathryn Joosten (Desperate Housewives) Helps Lung Cancer Patients"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/em>Today is Day 5 of my 31 Days of Self-Love posts to celebrate Self-Love Month<\/a><\/strong> with suggestions for jumpstarting your own self-love.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em>Taking charge of your healthcare is self-love. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Actress Kathryn Joosten has taken the reins to change that! You might know her from her role as Mrs. Landingham on The West Wing or as the feisty Karen McClusky on Desperate Housewives. Kathryn has that same feisty determination after being diagnosed and treated for lung cancer twice.<\/p>\n

Now this two-time Emmy\u00ae-award winning actress has taken on what might be her biggest role\u2014stepping into the spotlight to share her story as part of a campaign to decrease the stigma of lung cancer and educate the public about the importance of knowing the molecular profile of the cancer.<\/p>\n

Lung cancer has been seen as a disease affecting people who smoke, creating shame since people are often accused of causing it. Kathryn says that many well-known people with lung cancer keep it quiet because of that. She\u2019s determined to create a lot more awareness about why the stigma is unfair and that lung cancer treatment is not one-size-fits-all. Kathryn has become a poster girl for Lung Cancer Profiles<\/strong>,<\/a> which provides important information about molecular testing in lung cancer, how to broach the topic with your physician and what to expect when getting tested.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t work and targets what\u2019s most likely to work best. Lung Cancer Profiles<\/strong><\/a> is a collaboration between Pfizer Oncology and the nation’s leading lung cancer patient advocacy organizations. Visitors to the site can share their stories to highlight the diversity of lung cancer. Here\u2019s what Kathryn Joosten had to say:<\/p>\n

How did you feel when diagnosed with lung cancer?<\/strong> The first time around, 2001, I thought, \u201cthat\u2019s interesting.\u201d I was in complete denial that it would mean anything serious. I remember my interns and I looked at the x-rays and saw the spot. I saw that it was encapsulated; it wasn\u2019t spread out and I thought they\u2019d just take it out, which is exactly what happened.<\/p>\n

And the second time?<\/strong> The second I never expected to get cancer again and it was devastating. I expected it to be taken out the same way as before, with no problem. When the doctor said I had stage 3 A, I almost fell through the floor. I did not expect that at all.<\/p>\n

How did you get yourself into a mindset to fight?<\/strong> I have a very good actor friend who came over. I was crying and carrying on, convinced I was going to die. I was going to have treatments and lose my hair. He listened for a while and then said, \u201cYou\u2019re going to do what you accuse everyone else of doing\u2014you\u2019re gonna go hide.\u201d I said that I couldn\u2019t let anybody know. He said, \u201cYou\u2019ve got to attack.\u201d And I recognized he was right! So I called my publicist at the time and said we would put it out all over the place\u2014not hide anything. And that\u2019s what we did. It was a tremendous tool that helped me get on top and handle it.<\/p>\n

Then what did you do?<\/strong> I started therapy with a very talented therapist who had a lot of experience with people with cancer. Everybody needs a support system and I don\u2019t have family nearby.<\/p>\n

How did feeling empowered help you?<\/strong> I didn\u2019t feel as terrorized and thought, \u201cI can do something about this.\u201d Then I began self-visualization and I do a lot of that. I know it works in medicine. Advocacy was a way of getting mastery over the disease. It gives you a tremendous feeling of power.<\/p>\n

Why did you get so involved in Lung Cancer Profiles?<\/strong> Oh my God, it\u2019s been needed!! But I\u2019m tired of being the flag carrier. I want to find another one. I get so disgusted because I know of a couple of people with lung cancer but they won\u2019t come out. It pisses me off that people with lung cancer continue to support the stigma and all of that crap about you won\u2019t get work if people know. That\u2019s not so! I work all the time. Yet people are ashamed to come forward.<\/p>\n

Why aren\u2019t you stigmatized?<\/strong> I have nothing to lose! I had a job during the first cancer on The West Wing. During the second one I was working for Desperate Housewives. I had my surgery, took a week off and came back to work. It was no different than working now. So it was no big deal. They weren\u2019t going to fire me. You can\u2019t fire somebody for having an illness.<\/p>\n

How are you now?<\/strong> Cancer loses some of its terror as you learn more about it. It begins to get its proper place and priorities. I\u2019m far more concerned about the cat limping than I am about my next C scan.<\/p>\n

What keeps you going?<\/strong> I\u2019m a high-energy person. I always have been, sometimes to my own detriment. But there\u2019s no reason why not to keep going. What else am I going to do?<\/p>\n

What would you say to someone who was just diagnosed?<\/strong> Get a therapist. Join a group. Learn everything you can about it. Understand that you\u2019re going to go through a whole coloration of emotions. It\u2019s gonna be up and down all over the place. I\u2019m walking around and working so it ain\u2019t so bad.<\/p>\n

What do you say to people who try to put the blame on you for smoking?<\/strong> If they ask if I smoked I just say, \u201cWhy do you ask?\u201d and leave it at that. If they push it, I just say, \u201cYou\u2019re just encouraging the stigma. Are you blaming me for it?\u201d\u00a0 You\u2019ve gotta put them on the spot! Make \u2018em really squirm! And they won\u2019t ask it again.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your best piece of advice for making the most out of your life?<\/strong> Go for it! Don\u2019t retire from life. That doesn\u2019t mean you have to get a job or keep your job. It means you keep your mind active. I don\u2019t exercise every day, though I should. I do ride horses and do equestrian sports. I jump a little. But don’t retire from life, turn on the television and become a vegetable.
\n———————<\/p>\n

If you or someone you know has lung cancer, check out Lung Cancer Profiles<\/strong><\/a>. Read the stories people posted and empower yourself with the info to have the best shot to recover.\u00a0 Also, check out Kathryn Joosten\u2019s BLOG<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

*********************<\/p>\n

Take the 31 Days of Self-Love Challenge<\/strong><\/a>–a pledge to do something loving for yourself for the next 31 days–and get my book, How Do I Love Me? Let Me Count the Ways<\/a><\/strong> for free at http:\/\/howdoiloveme.com<\/a><\/strong>. Read my 31 Days of Self-Love Posts from 2011 HERE<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Please leave comments under my posts so we can stay connected.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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Daylle's books have been translated into over 10 languages and are popular around the world. She speaks for colleges, organizations and corporations. Through her company, Project Self-Empowerment, Daylle creates programs and materials to help people empower themselves. One goal is to raise the money to self-publish her book, How Do I Love Me? Let Me Count the Ways and give it away for free in colleges and through organizations, to give thanks for all her blessings. 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