Patrick Swayze's Battle with Cancer

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

06 Mar 2008 06:52 AM

The bad news: The "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost" star has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

The good news: According to Patrick Swayze's doctor, the actor "has a very limited amount of disease and he appears to be responding well to treatment thus far."

It's not everyday that a celeb's doctor releases a statement to the media, but apparently some news outlets have been erroneously reporting that Swayze was given a year to live while others noted that the actor has been hit with serious side effects and was bedridden. All of which is untrue, according to Swayze's physician.

In fact the actor's rep said today that Swayze is "continuing his normal schedule during this time, which includes working on upcoming projects."

The 55-year-old movie star (besides his breakout role in "Dirty Dancing" and his coupling with Demi Moore in the 1990 blockbuster "Ghost," Swayze also appeared in 2001's "Donnie Darko" and 1995's "To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar") and Broadway regular (in the '70s he played the lead role of Danny Zucco in "Grease" and in 2003, had a brief stint in the revival of "Chicago") is reportedly being cared for by a team of medical professionals and his wife of more than 30 years, Lisa Niemi.

Despite suffering from what doctors call "one of the most serious of cancers" (because it spreads so rapidly), Swayze's rep says the pilot the actor shot in December called "The Beast," in which he plays an unconventional FBI agent, is being eyed as a possible series by the cable network A&E. Should the show get green lighted for the new season Swayze is scheduled to continue shooting new episodes.

The National Cancer Institute estimates there will be 37,680 new cases of pancreatic cancer in 2008 with 34,290 deaths in the United States. Sadly, according to statistics. only five percent of patients live more than five years after being diagnosed.

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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drdad (503) 06 Mar 2008 07:56 AM

Yeah, Michele is back!

Michele Cheplic (37435) 06 Mar 2008 01:06 PM

Thanks drdad!

Tristi Pinkston (10839) 06 Mar 2008 06:35 PM

I love Patrick Swayze -- I think we can all say we would have loved Jennifer Gray's role in Dirty Dancing. How sad that he's ill, but it sounds like he'll come through it just fine.

Libby Pelham (12880) 06 Mar 2008 08:31 PM

I hope his doctor is not putting on a brave front. I looked it up and it was pancreatic cancer that took Michael Landon so swiftly at such a young age. I love Patrick - my trilogy is Dirty Dancing (BTW, if I remember correctly, he and Jennifer Grey did NOT get along during the filming of that movie), Ghost, and Road House (which also included guitarist Jeff Healy, who sadly passed away earlier this week after a lifelong bout with cancer that took his sight at the age of 1).

Michele Cheplic (37435) 07 Mar 2008 04:57 AM

I heard the doctor say it was a blessing that they caught it early and the cancer hasn't spread so perhaps that will make a big difference in his treatment (his rep said he is currently undergoing chemotherapy) and his survival rate. Let's hope anyway.

Lisa P (24013) 07 Mar 2008 12:47 PM

I loved Road House - classic 80's movie! Jeff Healy really rocked that house. I think To Wong Foo has to be my favorite though. When you put Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze and John Leguizamo in drag and send them on a road trip - well, who wouldn't want to be in the 4th seat on that land yacht?