Lung Cancer Profiles

We asked Kathryn to share her story with Pfizer

My name is Kathryn Joosten and I am a two-time Emmy®-award winning actress; you may know me from my roles on "Desperate Housewives" and "The West Wing". I was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) 10 years ago when my internist discovered a spot on the upper lobe of my right lung after conducting a chest X-ray. The diagnosis caught me off guard because I didn’t have any physical symptoms of lung cancer. My tumor was removed in surgery and diagnosed as stage I, but 2 years ago I was diagnosed with another stage III lung cancer tumor.

Throughout my 10-year fight with lung cancer, I’ve learned how important it is to be an advocate for your own health and find an oncologist who is right for you. To educate myself about this disease, I researched and learned about molecular testing as well as new targeted therapies to treat lung cancer. During my second fight with lung cancer, I worked hard to find a lab that could conduct mutational testing on my tumor and learned that my cancer is EGFR-negative. Although getting my tumor tested required perseverance, it was important to me, and I am proud to say that I took an active role in my own health.

When my diagnosis began to take an emotional toll, I realized the importance of a health care team that can provide a full “360 degrees of care.” I dedicated my time to looking for an oncologist who could offer that kind of support while also being knowledgeable about molecular testing, and it ended up being worth the effort. After undergoing chemotherapy and radiation with some success, my cancer continued to progress, and I became involved in lung cancer advocacy efforts.

My doctors spoke highly of Dr. David Gandara at the University of California Davis Cancer Center, so I made an appointment, and he informed me of clinical trials at The National Cancer Institute at the National Institute of Health. As part of the clinical trial process, my tissue was analyzed again, and through this testing, I learned my cancer was KRAS-positive, which helped my doctors find the right trial for my type of lung cancer. I have been undergoing combination therapy of an investigational treatment in this trial for several months and my most recent scan shows some nodules have shrunk, some are stable, and nothing has grown.

As someone whose recent treatment plan has been tailored to the genetic makeup of my cancer, I’d recommend that lung cancer patients talk to their doctor about getting their tumor tested. I’d also stress the importance of finding an oncologist who makes you feel comfortable, is committed to treating the whole person rather than the disease, and is at the cutting edge of science. I feel that I am the only outspoken lung cancer patient in Hollywood, and I want to do my part to raise awareness and speak up for others with this devastating disease. I’m sharing my story to prompt others including those in the public eye to do the same, in an effort to decrease stigma around this disease. Lung cancer can affect anyone, smokers and non-smokers, young and old. It’s time for our voices to be heard.

Kathryn is being sponsored by Pfizer Oncology for her participation in the Lung Cancer Profiles campaign.

November 1, 2011