Actor Patrick Swayze Diagnosed With Cancer
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
March 5, 2008 6:57pm CST
I just heard this on the news about one of my favorite actors, Patrick Swayze who is 55 years old andof "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost" fame has pancreatic cancer
Here's an excerpt of an article
(quote)
..."Dirty Dancing" star Patrick Swayze has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but contrary to published reports, his publicist told ABCNEWS.com Wednesday that he is not expected to die from the disease within weeks.
"Patrick has a very limited amount of disease and he appears to be responding well to treatment thus far," Swayze's physician, Dr. George Fisher said in a statement released by the actor's publicist. "All of the reports stating the time frame of his prognosis and his physical side effects are absolutely untrue. We are considerably more optimistic."
"Patrick is continuing his normal schedule during this time, which includes working on upcoming projects," Fisher continued. "The outpouring of support and concern he has already received from the public is deeply appreciated by Patrick and his family."
Early Wednesday, the National Enquirer reported that Swayze had "five weeks to live" and his cancer had "spread to other organs."
Pancreatic cancer has the highest fatality rate of all cancers, according to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. The average life expectancy after diagnosis is between three and six months and only 5 percent of those diagnosed live beyond five years. .."
I've read other articles and it made it sound like he only had weeks to live, but this article seems to refute that. I was kind of shocked about hearing this though, as I've been a fan of Swayze's ever since I saw him in the movie Dirty Dancing.
What are your feelings when you hear of a favorite "celebrity" having a major illness? Does it kind of stun you in a way? I mean for some reason we tend to think of "stars" being impervious to health problems since you figure they can afford and are getting better medical attention than us "common" folk.
12 people like this
28 responses
@AmbiePam (85417)
• United States
6 Mar 08
I had not heard of this, and now that I have, I hope he recovers fully. The plus side, like what you mentioned, is that he can afford the best of care. Honestly, even if I had seen the story in the National Enquirer, I would not have taken it seriously at all. That magazine is trash tabloid, although I don't many quality tabloids. If I'd seen it in OK magazine I wouldn't have believed it. It takes a magazine not always based on heresay to make me think about the reality of the truth. I hope he recovers and then goes on to resurrect his career. It would serve the idiot 'journalists' at the NE right.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Mar 08
No the story was here...forgot to put the link for the article..
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/CancerPreventionAndTreatment/story?id=4395963
Know what you mean though about the National Enquirer though as they are always trying to have a sensational story that someone's dying of something
Do hope he recovers too though
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Mar 08
OMG--you read that story about me giving birth to an alien??...drat... Hehee
1 person likes this
@lpetges (3036)
• United States
6 Mar 08
its very sad, hes really not that old either. i don't understand how you get this deadly disease except for the fact that something bad happens to everyone, and we all have to leave sometime,, i will be sad to see him suffer, and hope his family will be able to have enough strength and faith for him.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
7 Mar 08
I think it's a shock to hear of any celebrity hit with a major disease
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
7 Mar 08
It came as a shock to me as well I have to say as I do like him and the thing I like about him is that he is hardly in the Public and in News which is so refreshing when you keep hearing all the Scandals about most of them
I really hope he will get through this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Mar 08
Sorry so late in getting back to this...I've been hoping to hear updates about him and how he's doing but haven't heard anything yet..yes he does seem to keep out of the public eye. Sometimes one gets tired of hearing of celebrity scandals..like Brittany Spears
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
6 Mar 08
I just heard about this today. I hate to hear it as I really like Patrick Swayze. However, I do think that pancreatic cancer is one of the worst kinds to have as most doctors won't operate for it and it does seem to be the one that kills people faster than any others. I hope that he responds well to treatment and can beat this. He will be in our prayers tonight.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Mar 08
I know I was rather stunned when I heard about this...hopefully he'll have the fighting spirit to conquer this
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
6 Mar 08
YES it stuns and sickens me!! Oh my gosh!! I didn't know about this!! I love this guy!! LOL No really, he's definetly one of my favorite actors of all time!! Man! I hope he gets better and goes on to live a long and hopefully healthy life because he deserves it. Man I'm so shocked and really saddened by this.... Thanks Pye for sharing the news be it good or bad, I'd want to know.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Mar 08
I know I'm crazy about Swayze too, he was brilliant in Ghost and couldn't stop crying with that movie
1 person likes this
@joyceshookery (2057)
• United States
6 Mar 08
Patrick Swayze is one of my favorite actors also -- and from "Dirty Dancing" as well as "Ghost." I am sad that he has pancreatic cancer. I'm glad his doctor refutes what the media has said.
It stuns me almost as if I knew him, which I don't. I wish him the best.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Mar 08
I know it stunned me to as if I personally knew him...haven't heard any updates how he's doing though
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Mar 08
Pancreatic cancer is hard to catch. It is hard to see and almost impossible to diagnose during regular check up....
Pancreatic cancer is also very hard to treat, treatment results are hard to predict and the only options are radio and chemotherapy....
Prognosis depends on the specific type and stage of the tumor.
There are about 7 different types of Pancreatic cancer.
Hope he is going to be OK and treatment will go well.
He has very good energy around him. Just looking at his picture you can see that he lost a lots of weigh, but he is going to loose much more. In the other hand he has the best treatment possible to have and hope they are able to stop cancer cells from growing.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
7 Mar 08
I've seen pictures of him where he looks absolutely horrible. While maybe it's nice to inform us fans whenever some celebrity is going through a major challenge, I hate it though when they hound them to pieces
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
6 Mar 08
Oh that is so SAD!
I too love Patrick!!
He's a great actor and he's got a nice voice too.
I am sending him all kinds of good vibes, warm wishes, and prayers his way.
I hope he does recover and soon. It will be so sad to lose him too this year. Two of my favorite actors.
Getting old sucks...we lose too many people.
1 person likes this
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
25 Mar 08
I still watch dirty dancing and ghost. I must have missed this post the first time around Pye, I was unaware of him being sick. I guess I should read more news. I hate to hear this, he is up there among the sexiest males w talent in my eyes.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Mar 08
Hehe..well I don't really read the news...can't even remember how I first did hear of this..maybe watching the news a bit, which I don't do often either..I hope he can somehow pull through..great actor and darn great looking!
1 person likes this
@Springlady (3986)
• United States
7 Mar 08
Hi pye,
I found out about this yesterday and was saddened by it. It was hard to believe really because he always seemed to be in such good shape. But, cancer does not discriminate. It can happen to anyone at any time.
I pray that he will beat this and I know he will give it a good fight.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Mar 08
I pray he puts up a good fight too...yes, even a person who is in good physical shape can succumb to illness though
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
25 Mar 08
I don't know why I said this but I think he has a chance to survive. It's true that even if someone can afford the best medical help if it's his time to go he will go anyway, but I have a feeling he will make it, at least he will live longer than others. He is not my favorite celebrity but I hope my feeling is right.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Mar 08
I hope you're feeling is right too LittleMel...haven't heard anything new...maybe a good sign??
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
6 Mar 08
Hearing this on the news this morning I was shocked and really saddened, you are right in that it stuns you, when you have grown up with a star over a number of years it is like they are a part of your family in a funny way its very strange, and my thoughts were like, this doesnt happen to people like him. Its really strange how this sort of news can affect someone. I mean he does have access to all the best medical treatments that money can buy, and why not hes certainly earned it, but whether or not it will be any good for him I can only hope that by some chance he can beat it, but it isnt promising given the type of cancer he has, its really sad.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Mar 08
How true..I think whenever we kind of grow up with a certain celebrity and admire them to hear about some ill health challenge they are going through is a blow as almost as if they were a member of one's family for some reason
@ebberts (784)
• United States
6 Mar 08
I read the article yesterday and it is very sad. I know I am allways suprised to hear one of my favorite actors is ill, or to see how they have aged. I guess we are so used to seeing them on screen looking well that we don't think about it. I have been praying for him. I believe in the power of prayer to heal. As I'm sure alot of you do. May God Bless him and all of you.
1 person likes this
@Trace86 (5030)
• United States
6 Mar 08
I found a similar article on People on line and posted it in a discussion too. My article seems a bit different than yours.
http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1425965.aspx
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20182300,00.html
I really loved him in Dirty Dancing and Ghost. He seemed like a nice guy and fun to be with just from his smile and eyes.
I had no idea he was 55 until I read the article.
I am glad they caught it early and hope he will be well soon.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Mar 08
Mmmm...beat me to the story huh? LOL. I happen to hear it on the news while I was eating dinner...and gee, 55? He's only three years older than I am
1 person likes this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
6 Mar 08
Yes black cat, I am very surprised to learn of this news. Patrick Swayze is also one of the celebrity I admired. Like the old adage, not all golds are glittering holds true for Patrick Swayze.
Cancer can happen to anyone. It doesn't have a mind of its own and will continue to attack anyone no matter who you are. To have the financial stability is good but money certainly can stop us from having cancer. This is a sad news but that's life.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Mar 08
Yes how sad but true that any serious illness can strike anyone regardless of financial status...hope he can somehow pull through though
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
6 Mar 08
So sorry, pyewacket, that I horned in on your post. I had not checked to find out if anyone else had opened a discussion about Patrick Swayze before I posted mine a short time ago. It is all very sad, and the exploitation by the media makes it that much worse because his doctors say he is responding well to treatment.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Mar 08
That's okay..LOL...actually another MyLotter beat me to the story first..and didn't notice either. It's really sad how the trashier news media are having a field day with this story though..I do hope he does respond well to his treatments
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
6 Mar 08
He is one of my most favorite actors. I do hope he can overcome his cancer.Pancreatic cancer is a real killer and I have lost several friends to it. My husbands brother was diagnosed with it and only lived six months but think thathe did not get to the doctor soon enough.I lovedthe movie Dirty Dancing and saw it several times. I do hope he can pull through this.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Mar 08
Yes I hope he can pull through this too and I understand pancreatic cancer really is a hard one to beat though
@PinkFloydFan77 (68)
• United States
6 Mar 08
I have always been a big fan of Patrick Swayze. "Dirty Dancing" was what got me hooked. I hope he is able to make a full recovery.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Mar 08
I think a lot of people were first introduced to him through Dirty Dancing...I know I was
