The Official Statement
Filed under: Sad Sad > Patrick Swayze
Patrick Swayze is remaining optimistic, despite his recent diagnosis with pancreatic cancer.
The actor's publicist released this statement Wednesday afternoon:
"Actor Patrick Swayze has been diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and is currently undergoing treatment. Patrick's physician Dr. George Fisher states, 'Patrick has a very limited amount of disease and he appears to be responding well to treatment thus far. All of the reports stating the timeframe 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. The outpouring of support and concern he has already received from the public is deeply appreciated by Patrick and his family."
[Image via Mavrix Online.]
Fight the good fight! Pancreatic cancer is devastatingly fast and fatal.
this is horrible. My stepmom passed away from this terrible disease just a year ago. She was given 8 months and lived 8 months to the day she was diagnosed. my prayers are with him and his family.
He is a gem. I met him at Sundance a few years ago at a celeb party where most "stars" were total assholes and self-congradulating dicks. I was sitting alone, being ignored and Patrick saw me and came over to talk in a very real, endearing way. I've met a lot of celebrities and most times they're a disappointment, but not him. I wish him all the best.
He is in my prayers. My high school years were highlighted by Dirty Dancing so he will always hold a special place in my thoughts.
Re: What Causes Pancreatic Cancer –
Thanks for the info. Get well Patrick. Stay strong.
I've already sent up prayers for him & his loved ones. I'm also encouraged by the fairly optimistic prognosis…at least he has a chance, which is a lot more than many who receive this diagnosis get. May God see him through to a full recovery.
I wept when I read this story. Patrick Swayze is a national treasure.
I will pray daily for him and his family. There has never been anything more
beautiful on film than Swayze dancing in Dirty dancing.
I watch this movie at least five or six times a year and love it everytime.
I always wished he had done more films over the years.
My heart hurts thinking about this and I wish him strength and courage in his fight against cancer.
cancer
I am very saddened by this news. My mom is only a few months younger than Patrick is and she found out, also in January, that she has inoperable pancreatic cancer that has spread. It is probably the worst diagnosis that one can here. I am very sad for his family but I pray that such a high profile person developing this disease will help increase awareness. People need to be screened for this disease, because almost every time it is discovered it is already Stage IV. There is no cure.
Re: Gigi –
Nice. Thank you for sharing that with us. It makes me feel a little less sad
about all of this.
so sad..:(
"limited amount"…hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Uh, ok. I just hope he keeps going. Michael Landon had it and lasted longer than anyone I've ever seen. It's really fatal in almost all cases.
Steve Jobs from Apple beat pancreatic cancer, but he had a very rare kind that was treatable. Most of it, though, as far as I know, is really serious.
too bad this rotten disease will touch all of our lives in one way or another and what really really bugs me is that the big cancer agencys saying there looking for a cure spend less than 3 percent of your money on prevention shame shame
My father was diagnosed with Pancreatic and Liver cancer on January 11, 1996 and passed away on June 27, 1996 13 days after his 53rd birthday. This is one of the worst cancers there is. My Uncle (Dad's brother also passed away from it almost 2 years ago). There needs to be more focus on this kind of cancer. Please Please Please spread the word that this is very bad. I have a tattoo of a purple ribbon on my back for pancreatic cancer in honor of my Dad. I wish all the best for Patrick Swayze and his family. Stay Strong….there is hope!!!!!!!!
Dear Patrick, I wish you and pray for you that you will beat this terrible cancer, and that you will survive it. I hope that all your great physical dancing and riding of horses and all the working out will pay off now when you really need your body to help you. With best wishes…. Carol
I have worked with cancer patients and their families for a long time. He will die of Pancreatic Cancer, for the chances of a cure are almost nil. The new numbers from the American Cancer Society say that for all stages–meaning it does not matter if it is caught early or not–the one year survival rate is only 24% and the five year survival rate is 5%. Of course, what do those people in the 5% rate look like at five years? Are they just alive or really living? If some of my patients are any indication, they are often dying actively. This is terrible news for anyone who is diagnosed with this disease. Some people choose to focus on the quality of their life and others choose to focus on the quantity of time. I am a fighter, but if I had this disease I would enjoy what time I had left and not spend a minute of it getting Shi*** chemo! That's me. What we should pray for (if you are one to pray) is that what time he has will be long and comfortable. Panc CA is a bitch in the pain department.
This is so sad. My thoughts and prayers.
this is sad news, but the Enquirer was right. They often are. His people say he has a limited amount of the disease. time will tell.
I would neve, ever, ever be able to watch The Outsiders or Dirty Dancing again! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Patrick and I am truly upset!!!
PAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTRRRRIIICCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!
Don't go.
Good thing his publicist didn't release a statement that he's not wearing a toupee.
All the best Patrick. You truly are a legend
I love Patrick Swayze. I hope he pulls through. God bless him and his family.
Re: PH –
I am attending the University of Alberta in Canada and they have recently found a promising cancer treatment for many types of cancer. It is a drug that has been around for about 30 years. Because of this drug companies cannot make $$$ due to issues with patenting. Thus they are chosing not to fund clinical trials. With Dicholoroacetic acid (DCA) tumors shrink up to 70% in 3 weeks. This could be very valuable treatment for pancreatic cancer and useful experimental for Mr. Swayze if all other options are exhausted.
Re: Jack –
New use of old drug DCA (dichloroacetic acid) may be a new promising treatment for vicious cancers like pancreatic cancer. However drug companies are not chosing to find clinical trials due to patenting issues. (they will not make $$$) Research at the University of Alberta in Canada showed a 70% reduction in tumor size in 3 weeks. Also a vetrinarian in the Edmonton area has taken to treating himself with DCA and his pancreatic cancer is remitting and he was told there were no options left for him.
Prognosis of Pancreatic cancer
Extremely poor with overall 5-year survival rate less than 5%
Long-term survival rate is 0.4%
For locally advanced disease, the median survival is 6-10 months
For metastatic disease, the median survival is 3-6 months
5-year survival rate for patients with advanced disease is less than 1%; most die within 1 year
For patients undergoing surgical resection, median survival is 10-18 months
For surgical candidates who have a complete resection, 5-year postoperative survival rate is about 20-25%
Survival may be improved by combined adjuvant chemoradiotherapy with 5-FU (20 months vs 11 months)
Tumor grade, stage, and resection margin status are the best predictors of survival following surgery
Severe abdominal pain is often indicative of splanchnic nerve involvement and advanced nonresectable disease
That is so sad. My uncle passed away from pancreatic cancer. My thought and prayers are with him and his loved ones.
I've met him and hope he responds to treatment. But statistically it's not good but you can always pray he'll be one of the lucky ones. My aunt died of pancreatic cancer…it was a very bad way to go and she suffered greatly. Perhaps the best he can hope for is a peaceful and painless passing.
Pancreatic cancer is most often fatal; due to the fact that it has usually spread elsewhere by the time it is detected. My grandfather was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last summer when his liver began to fail. He died within two weeks of detection. I truly hope that this will not be his fate. My thoughts and prayers are with him.
Patrick, there is never a "right" time to go. Be you 90 or 19, death always removes our ability to share and love. But it's also the one thing we all have in common. Can't escape, dodge or rewrite. Thanks for giving me so many fine moments of entertainment; Roadhouse, Ghost, Dirty Dancing… and more.
Hey bro, see you on the other side.
My thoughts and prayers go to him and his family. May he not be a statistic and beat this hideous disease. I lost my father to it 2 years ago and I truly know what his family is feeling. God bless.
Hey #185 Nathan — You are an IDIOT …. We have had many in my husbands family die VERY quickly of this type of cancer … there is no "chemo" or "treatment" … if, in fact it is pancreatic canceer, that is that …. it is not pretty. Not for nothing …. just a bit more of a class act than David Hasselhoff…. I just want to make it clear to everyone …. Let's not turn this into something silly …
So sad. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most painful forms there is. He and his family will definitely be in my prayers.
Perhaps Patrick would have wanted to fight his battle with cancer on his own terms and in anonymity. If you had to fight such a difficult uphill battle, would you want the world knowing about it? I am sure he already has enough on his mind. So sad. You provide entertainment, but sometimes you go too far. Stop making fun of children and people who are ill.
Such a shame! I have always LOVED him. But, from what I've seen of this disease, you don't usually last very long… in my experience. I truly hope that is not the case with Patrick. And recurrence with this is very high. I hope he beats this and the statistics.
MY GOD , IT SEEMS SO MANY HERE ON THIS THREAD HAVE LOST LOVED ONES TO THIS TYPE OF CANCER , YET THERE IS SO LITTLE AWARENESS SURROUNDING IT …
BREAST CANCER AND LUNG CANCER ARE THE STARS OF THE SHOW APPARENTLY , YET WE NEVER HEAR MUCH ON PANCREATIC CANCER AND THAT SEEMS TO BE WOSE THAN BREAST CANCER .
MAYBE THROUGH PATRICK , THIS WILL RAISE A HIGHER AWARENESS. IF I WERE HIM , I WOULD DO A FEW COMMERCIALS ON " GETTING YOURSELF TESTED " , I THINK A BLOOD TEST WOULD BE A GOOD START .
you don't put cancer in the corner
hang in there Patrick, you are super tough and can pull thru!!!
out of everyone it had to be him!! he was a true actor……..one with soul not like the celcretards you see today!! this totally shocked me….i feel like crying……….why couldnt it have been britney's ex manager that weird guy??
THis is like a disgrace!! but my prayers go out to patrick…..i love you
Nobody puts Baby in a corner!!!! This has hit me really hard for some reason. I think he was the crush of every girl back in the late 80s and early 90s. If Dirty Dancing is on TV, I will stop whatever I'm doing for 2 hours and watch it, commercials and all, and I have the stupid movie on DVD, for goshsakes. That's how much I love watching Patrick Swayze. I wish him and his family only the best. I wish him strength and courage, the hope of good treatments and a cure of course, but if it comes down to it, as much peace and as little suffering as possible. God bless. Johnny rules forever.
such a great guy, dude you are in my prayers….
:( My thoughts and love are with him and his familyyyy
Hang in there Patrick!
Re: yanick –
not as sick as first reported? pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest survival rates. the five year survival rate is 4%. my uncle just lost his battle with pancreatic cancer, do your research.
I will hope and pray for him, but Pancreatic cancer has about a 97 percent mortality rate. I have known three people in my life that have passed from this particularly nasty type of cancer, one of them being my aunt. She was given six months when she first learned she had it and only made it three. I sincerely hope that they caught this early and that Mr Swayze has a proactive treatment plan.
I have to say… the whole " nobody puts cancer in a corner…" You have no idea what this form of the disease does so very quickly …. it is so devastating … whether or not you "respect" him as an actor"… can we just pray for his comfort? Believe me, he will need it. I love the gossip as much as the next guy … but really ….
I've just read through all of the comments on here. And I'm so touched to see how many people cared and how there weren't any negative comments (save a few really stupid ones that you can't take seriously). I too am saddened by this. He just seems like such a GOOD guy who just does not deserve this. I'm so sorry to hear this. I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way.
There needs to be more research and awareness for Pancreatic cancer. My mom survived for 10 months after diagnosis. She had the same surgeon as Pavarotti located in NYC and he fucked her up big time. Her cancer hadn't spread and after a round of chemo and radiation was able to be removed 100% with clear margins we were told. She never recovered from the surgery and lived unable to eat on IV nutrition, in the most unbelievable torture for 4 months. She never drank or smoked, wasn't fat and had no family history of any type of cancer. The healthiest woman before this. The doctors don't know SHIT! They lie and pretend they do. Good luck to anyone gets this horrific disease.
He's in my Prayers. I am a Cancer patient also and I know the Hell that we go through…It is NOT easy..it's going to be difficult. Stay Strong Patrick
I'm so sad. I will keep him in prayers. When I found out I almost cried and watched my favorite movie, Dirty Dancing.
Not Patrick!! i LOVE HIM!! sO SAD..
WILL SOMEONE PLEASE PASS A THERAPY ONTO MR SWAYZE…it is called GERSON, the Institute is in San Diego and the treatment is in Mexico. I personally have researched it, it has three long term cures I know of…spoken with…GERSON THERAPY…also THE OASIS OF HOPE IN MEXICO…LAETRILE…website…bravesouls.com,
PLEASE PASS THIS ON, IT COULD SAVE HIS LIFE
Wow, look at his eyes — GORGEOUS!
Re: Karmen – Karmen…as well a clinical trail going on in the US that began with Dr Juda Folkman…RAD001…yet I recommend if you have not been PRE-TREATED with chemo or radiation for internal organs a therapy of alternative sorts called THE GERSON THERAPY…I know three people who were cured, two of whom were from British Columbia and one person who sent me the CT scans…there was no doubt about their diagnosis…one man passed at age 89, 15yrs after no sign any longer of PC…GERSON, if you can stick to it CURES…a person would need to hire help.
PJ
Re: dianne – dianne, can you contact his family or him…I know three pancreatic cancer survivors who did a therapy called GERSON…these people are 13yr survivors, 22yr survivors and one man survivied 15yrs(died at 82 of totally unrelated causes)…as well a man in Los Angeles…42yr survivor…I have spoken to them all personally…the man in LA is on the website bravesouls.com
pass on the message PLEASE
Re: Janelle – Janelle…all very true. Last summer I began doing research into PC…very grim. Yet in my research I came across three cured people on a therapy called GERSON, it is alternative, they all had the same commonality…never pretreated with chemo…I have spoken to them all at great length…one person sent me their CT scans…another man in Los Angeles is a 42yr survivor…he went to OASIS of Hope in Mexico…spoke with him for hours…a lady in Oregon went to Hoxsey in Mexico…I was to her home on my way back from Mexico, she is 76yrs young…just something to look at,
Re: Kat – Kat, so sorry for your loss…you are right…they know no other medicine. I have met survivors. Three. All had the same commonality…never pre-treated with Chemo…all three did an alternative therpy called Gerson…one person never gave up cigarettes, still smokes today…22yr survivor…another sent me the three CT scans…tumor spread to blood vessels…no sign of PC after two years of strict Gerson Therapy…if anyone you know gets diagnosed in the future…just ask them to at least look at it…when people are first diagnosed…fear overcomes them and they really never have time to look into any other thing besides what the traditional doc recommends…after all we believed for years they were GODS…they are human too…I know of two other confirmed cases…one man 44yr survivor amd a lady who went to the Hoxsey clinic…three years ago…I have been to her home…she is alive and healthy.
God Bless you Kat
Re: jarvisbearcub – Michael Landon went on the Gerson Therapy for a while during his diagnosis
Re: Sara – God Bless you Sara for sharing…what trial treatment did he receive? As well the Gerson Therapy has people who have been cured…it is alternative
Prayers for Patrick. So bummed that he's so sick.
I just watched my vibrant, active dad pass away due to this horrible disease a few months ago - a shell of the person he was. The pain they suffer is the worst pain you can have, and there is no hope once diagnosed. Very hard to finally diagnose because the cancerous cells of pancreatic cancer also need healthy cells to replicate, so as the cancer cells multiply, so do healthy ones, in effect "burying" the cancer cells. Treatment can make the final days miserable because of the strength of the chemo and radiation necessary, so my dad declined a second round so he could enjoy his last days with us. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. My prayers are with the Swayze family. :*(
My prayers go for him and and his family…
wow….i feel like u are part of my family, i have seen dirty dancing about 30x and am from Houston and have heard all the stories from my uncle how u were in his class and u brought a guitar to class and sang a song for show and tell. We love u, get well soon Patrick, I'm praying for you
are prayers are with u patrick, u will pull through I'm sure of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
love to patrick and family keep strong!
I've never been a fan of Patrick's (not that I've disliked him either, just been completely whatever), but it really sucks to hear this has happened. Of course there are millions of people battling with cancer every day, and we never hear about them, but I think it's important that celebs talk about their experiences openly because it always brings more publicity for the problem in general.
Patrick Swayze is the best of all times. I love Dirty Dancing
You'll be in my thoughts forever!
Hope you get better!!!!
patrick I love you!!!!!
SADDDDD!!!! I loved him in "Dirty Dancing" when I was 13 and still do! I was shocked to hear the news. However, I have never heard of pancreatic cancer as being "limited." My grandpa died of it and he pretty much was told after surgery AND chemo there was not much they could do for him. My thoughts are with Patrick and his family!
So sad, Patrick and his family are in my thoughts and prayers! Try to think postitve, hang in there! My heart goes out to you!!!!!!
Too you people that are writing your rude comments, GROW UP!!!!! This could be you some day! Have a heart!!!!!!!!!
While I appreciate all the factors someone laid out about "what causes pancreatic cancer", sometimes it just IS. My mother lived a healthy lifestyle, execrised, ate well, never smoked and no related illnesses prior to her diagnosis. She was dead within 6 months after her diagnosis - and my maternal aunt lived with hers for even less time.
I would truely like to know what does "very limited amount of disease" mean. For God's sake - cancer is cancer, ja?
Don't let anyone fool, he is a dead man walking……………..
I LOVE PATRICK SWAYZE, HOPE HE GETS BETTER.
Hope he gets well soon.
Bless his heart - he is in my thoughts and prayers……
My mom also passed away from PC at age 62. Like everyone else said, the survival rate is ually less than a year. Yes there are a FEW who live longer like Randy Pausch…but it won't be much longer. PC is always fatal. Not nearly always, always. I am so sad to see the news and wish Patrick and his family lots of love and God bless. I too, would not wish this on my worst enemy.
L
Love you Buddy, (Patrick) you can fight this your strong minded and a surviver
my thoughts are with you Love You with all my heart xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx