Dirty Dancing and Ghost Star Patrick Swayze Has Pancreatic Cancer
March 6, 2008 by Kristen King
Filed under Women's Health
Actor Patrick Swayze, 55, was recently diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas. Although the National Enquirer reported that he has only 5 weeks to live, more recent reports indicate that the cancer is in early stages and is responding well to treatment. According to his rep, Swayze, who captured the hearts of women worldwide as bad boy Johnny Castle in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing (”Nobody puts Baby in the corner!”), is still working a normal schedule despite his illness.
The National Cancer Institute estimates about 37,600 new cases and of pancreatic cancer and 34,200 pancreatic cancer deaths in 2008. The Mayo Clinic describes cancer of the pancreas as one of the more serious cancers because it is seldom detected early and generally spreads quickly, which contributes to a 5-year survival rate of less than 5% and makes it the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the US.
Read more about Patrick Swayze’s recent diagnosis:
- Patrick Swayze Diagnosed With Pancreatic Cancer
- Patrick Swayze battling a deadly form of cancer
- Patrick Swayze Has Pancreatic Cancer
- Patrick Swayze Fighting Pancreatic Cancer
- Patrick Swayze Has Pancreatic Cancer
Read more about pancreatic cancer:
- All About Pancreatic Cancer from the American Cancer Society
- Pancreatic Cancer from People Living With Cancer (PLWC.org)
In light of the fact that this is a women’s health blog, leave a comment telling what Patrick Swayze has done for YOU. Did he get your heart rate up? Encourage you to take a dance class? Pique your interest in pottery? Let’s share the Swayze love.
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Contents © Copyright 2008 Kristen King
Tags: womens health blog, womens health, health information for women, patrick swayze, patrick swayze has pancreatic cancer, patrick swayze diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, does patrick swayze have cancer, is patrick swayze dying, lively women, kristen king
Dirty Dancing. Tight black jeans. Need I say more?
CHECK OUT MY PHOTO GALLERY OF PATRICK’S WORK: http://www.987theriver.com/cc-common/gallery/display.html?album_id=104357&_show
My prayers go out to Patrick and his family. This is a devastating and deadly disease. I know as I lost both my brother (46) and sister (51) to it. 2007 Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer death in the United States. We desperately need more funding for research. If you are interested, please see pancan.org and lustgarten.org. Thanks.
Kristen, I wrote about this today on Discussing Breast Cancer (dot com). My favorite movie line, perhaps of all time:
“I carried a watermelon?!?!?!?”
God be with Patrick and his family …
This is extremely devasting news to me, as I have been a long-time Patrick Swayze Fran. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. And…never say “never”. There is ALWAYS hope, and I do look forward to the news announcement that he has beaten this disease. C’mon Patrick…we know YOU can do it!!
My prayers go out to Patrick and his family. It is encouraging that his cancer was found early and perhaps he’ll be one of the lucky ones. I fervently hope so.
I really enjoyed Patrick in Dirty Dancing. He really made that body of his move!
Hang in there, Patrick, and fight the good fight. Be hopeful and never stop fighting. They have wonderful treatments now. I’ll be praying for you.
Karen, that is probably my favorite line of the whole movie, but no one ever knows what I’m talking about when I throw it out in conversation!
kk
Hang in there Patrick. Your Canadian fans are praying for you. My hubby is the perfect example that a serious form of cancer (aren’t they all?) can be beaten. that was 14 years ago and he’s still going strong. Be strong and fight. My thoughts and prayers to you and your loved ones.
Dee
I don’t care if you’re 5 or 85, if you’re female and you’ve seen Dirty Dancing, you have at some point longed for the day you, too, could dance with Mr. Swayze.
Or be lifted over his head.
Or laugh when he tried to be all seductive and drag his hand under your arm.
Or get rescued from a corner!!
*sigh*
My prayers are with him and his family.
Pancreatic cancer is serious: For all stages of pancreatic cancer combined, the five year survival rate is only 5%; the lowest survival rate of all major cancers. The average life expectancy after diagnosis with metastatic disease is just 3-6 months. 52% of pancreatic cancer patients are diagnosed with metastatic disease.
I lost my father to pancreatic cancer and now volunteer for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in the California Bay area and Napa Valley. Please visit the website for more information and how you can help.
I am heartbroken about the news of Patrick Swayze. My father passed away of Pancreatic Cancer in 2002 at the age of 56. I a glad to see that Pancreatic Cancer is starting to get more attention. Hopefully this is the beginning of more research, so we can catch this cancer in the early stages when it counts. Hang in there Patrick we are all praying for you and your family.
One way to help with research, fund-raising etc. Is through PanCan.ORG
Thank you for sharing the word about People Living With Cancer (www.plwc.org). Today we relaunched the site under a new name: Cancer.Net. The site has the same reliable, doctor approved content. We’ve just added some new features for newly diagnosed patients, patient advocates and cancer survivors. Thanks!