Actress Madeline Kahn, of Broadway's The Sisters Rosensweig, On the 20th Century and Two by Two, is being treated for ovarian cancer, the Associated Press reported Oct. 5.

In statement, the actress said, "It is my hope that I might raise awareness of this awful disease and hasten the day that an effective test can be discovered to give women a fighting chance to catch this cancer in its earliest stage."

Kahn, 57, has faced the disease for a year.

She appears on TV's "Cosby," and might be best known for being one of film director Mel Brooks' favorite comic actresses, appearing in "Blazing Saddles," "Young Frankenstein," "High Anxiety" and "History of the World Part 1." She also stole scenes in "Paper Moon" and "What's Up Doc?"

She won a 1993 Tony Award for Best Actress (Play) as the Chanel-loving radio talk show host in Wendy Wasserstein's The Sisters Rosensweig. She was also nominated in 1989 for playing Billie Dawn in a revival of Born Yesterday, in 1979 for On the 20th Century, and in 1974 for Boom Boom Room. -- By Kenneth Jones