OT: Patrik Swayze Has Five Weeks to Live

[Lora]

But you're right, Swayze was pretty fuckin cool in Point Break.
Hell, Swayze ruled the big screen in the 80's and early 90s...
Ghost, Point Break, Next of Kin, Road House, Dirty Dancing,
The Outsiders, Youngblood, Red Dawn, Grandview USA...

Don't forget the North and South mini-series. I think that was what really got him noticed.

I loved that mini-series. He was awesome as Orry Main. I hope these reports of his illness are not true.

[chickpea]

apparently it's true....

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,335210,00.html

[Michigan Girl]

apparently it's true....

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,335210,00.html

[epresley]

too

[Art Vandelay]

Yeah, back on the farm in Canada he did, and so did his old man, but on the team, Swayze taught him you need more than a pretty face and good hands to make it in the NHL. Then Pat got cheapshotted and hit his dome on the ice ending his career.

Funny story about Youngblood - one of the Flyers' then-pretty boys, Peter Zezel, was an extra in the movie. Rob Lowe sat directly behind the Flyers bench at a game in L.A. and was yelling "Zez! Zez!" The Flyers coach at the time, Mike Keenan (who was a real bad ass himself) told Zezel to shut that mother fucker up.

Ah, old time hockey.

Get the fuck out! I partied with Old Man Keenan a million times up in Vancouver, as he was doing a great job of driving that team into the ditch. Pavel Bure, Gino Oldjick, Greg Adams, Keenan and Geoff Courtnall and I got wasted drunk in Courtnalls bar. Keenan thought it was hilarious to see line brawls. He really came out of his skin when inebriated. Gotta hand it to him, he liked old time hockey.

Man, that's awesome! There's a few good Keenan stories from when he was here with Philly. My buddy was a stick boy back then and was berated by Keenan in front of the team for being in the locker room between periods during a game when they were getting their asses kicked. He also made the team sleep overnight in the locker room after another ass kicking.

The Fly-boys are a mess this year, but there are some classic stories with the franchise...especially back in the Broad Street Bullies days. Arrests, drunken fights, you name it!

[conversationpc]

Bummer...

[bluejeangirl76]

apparently it's true....

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,335210,00.html

Reports of the illness are true - that 5 weeks business... not so much, according to that fox news link:

However, Swayze’s rep says the star is continuing his normal work schedule, including working on several unnamed projects, and Swayze’s doctor says the reports of terminal cancer are unfounded.

“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,” Swayze’s physician Dr. George Fisher said in a statement.

Hope it continues to go well and he recovers.

[johnroxx]

From a report on MSNBC.com just over a half-hour ago. Note the section in bold & blue:

MSNBC News Services
updated 31 minutes ago

Patrick Swayze, who rose to fame in the movies “Dirty Dancing” and “Ghost,” has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

A press release issued by the actor's spokesperson Wednesday said: “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.”

;^)

[YoungJRNY]

Wow, hope he pulls through. Ghost is one of my all time favorite movies. "Get off my train!!"

[Rick]

From a report on MSNBC.com just over a half-hour ago. Note the section in bold & blue:

MSNBC News Services
updated 31 minutes ago

Patrick Swayze, who rose to fame in the movies “Dirty Dancing” and “Ghost,” has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

A press release issued by the actor's spokesperson Wednesday said: “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.”

;^)

Thanks for the update John and thank God. I hope he pulls through.

[Barb]

From a report on MSNBC.com just over a half-hour ago. Note the section in bold & blue:

MSNBC News Services
updated 31 minutes ago

Patrick Swayze, who rose to fame in the movies “Dirty Dancing” and “Ghost,” has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

A press release issued by the actor's spokesperson Wednesday said: “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.”

;^)

Well that is great news. Why the fuck do people make up things like that and get everyone all worked up?

[Lady Luck]

But you're right, Swayze was pretty fuckin cool in Point Break.
Hell, Swayze ruled the big screen in the 80's and early 90s...
Ghost, Point Break, Next of Kin, Road House, Dirty Dancing,
The Outsiders, Youngblood, Red Dawn, Grandview USA...

Don't forget the North and South mini-series. I think that was what really got him noticed.

I loved that mini-series. He was awesome as Orry Main. I hope these reports of his illness are not true.

I did too. That was the first time I ever saw him and thought, WOW! Instant Swayze fan.

[Lady Luck]

From a report on MSNBC.com just over a half-hour ago. Note the section in bold & blue:

MSNBC News Services
updated 31 minutes ago

Patrick Swayze, who rose to fame in the movies “Dirty Dancing” and “Ghost,” has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

A press release issued by the actor's spokesperson Wednesday said: “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.”

;^)

Great news!

[Michigan Girl]

Great news!

VERY HOPEFUL!!!!

[sadie65]

While I hope for the best for him...pancreatic cancer has an extremely small survival rate. It is what killed Michael Landon.

[Rockindeano]

Just heard on KNX 1070 AM here in LA, doctors from Stanford are encouraged, and that the cancer is small and survival is probable.

Not an hour ago I heard this.

[Blueskies]

Just heard on KNX 1070 AM here in LA, doctors from Stanford are encouraged, and that the cancer is small and survival is probable.

Not an hour ago I heard this.

That's good to hear...hope all continues to go well for him and he beats it.

[ohsherrie]

Just heard on KNX 1070 AM here in LA, doctors from Stanford are encouraged, and that the cancer is small and survival is probable.

Not an hour ago I heard this.

That's good to hear...hope all continues to go well for him and he beats it.

Me too.

[sadie65]

Again, I really do hope he beats it, however it is one of the most vicious cancers around. One year survival rate is only 20%...5 years is only 4%. I would think they are trying (rightfully so) to put as much of a positive spin on it as possible.

[mistiejourney]

Again, I really do hope he beats it, however it is one of the most vicious cancers around. One year survival rate is only 20%...5 years is only 4%. I would think they are trying (rightfully so) to put as much of a positive spin on it as possible.

I agree with Sadie. I lost an aunt to pancreatic cancer in less than a year from diagnosis. I see patients with it - extremely painful. It may not be five weeks, but it will be sooner than later, I'm sorry to say. It just sucks all the way around - I like the guy!

[Deb]

"Johnny!"

I do not want to believe this, he was just on Oprah dancing a few months ago.
dang a rang I hope this isn't the case.

Me too, how sad.

I looooove this movie. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qiFzgxSObM

[Luvsaugeri]

Again, I really do hope he beats it, however it is one of the most vicious cancers around. One year survival rate is only 20%...5 years is only 4%. I would think they are trying (rightfully so) to put as much of a positive spin on it as possible.

You're right Sadie. I work in an ICU and pancreatic cancer is vicious!! I've never know anyone that survived it.

[Jenna]

He did a Movie in my old Home town---called and I am sorry to say--I only remember part of the name of it--Tiger ---something --not a big hit-------but anyway our little town was all a buzz with his arrival and he stayed there---my sister was an extra in the church scene --a lot of locals got to be in it---he had a fender bender and was admitted to our Hospital and a friend of mine--who was a Nurse took care of him------he was so very nice --autographed a picture for her--he had homemade chili with a family----nice guy------Wish him the best---------

[Ratgirl]

Well nonetheless, my thoughts and prayers go out to him.

He is a great actor and I am not ashamed to admit I had a crush on him in the 80s. hehehe!

[Angiekay]

Well nonetheless, my thoughts and prayers go out to him.

He is a great actor and I am not ashamed to admit I had a crush on him in the 80s. hehehe!

Don't be ashamed....I still DO!

[Red13JoePa]

Come on "Dalton" pull through.

[strangegrey]

I hate to sound like a wet blanket again...however, I have to stress, Pancreatic cancer is pretty much a short term death sentence. This is because by the time symptoms of cancer in the pancreas manifest itself, the patient's body is already ravaged by the disease. My father-in-law went this way. 3 months prior to diagnosis, he was fine, totally clean bill of health. 3 months later diagnosis was 3-6 months to live, he was dead within 2.5 months.

It's sadly, a cold hard truth regarding pancreatic cancer. Sure there are people that survive it. But there are *not* many. Pancreatic Cancer is one of the fastest moving cancers out there. It's the total opposite extreme of colon cancer, where you can live for 10 years with it before it takes you out. If Swayze's got pancreatic cancer, it's extremely likely that he's been given a very grim prognosis and time-frame for his life. It's just a fact of the matter with pancreatic cancer.


I suspect, what's going on, is that Swayze's people are in damage control mode. They want to keep the press vultures away from swayze, so he can die with some dignity. By having a few doctors stress that this isnt as bad as it seems, they might not go into a feeding frenzy around him. The last thing I would want, irrespective of whether I were famous or not, is to have people hording me, my family, my hospital...as I live out my final days.

We all know the press can be completely fucking barbarianistic, when it comes to invading a dying man's dignity.


I'm going to do what I can and add Swayze into my prayers and hope that he lives out his final days without much pain, surrounded by family and friends. I've watched one man get completely eviscerated from the inside out to this god-awful disease. One's enough. I feel for Patrick....

[Michigan Girl]

Reality, eh?
My thoughts and prayers too!!!

[Behshad]

Here's the latest update......

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Patrick Swayze's doctor is "optimistic" about his prognosis for battling pancreatic cancer, and the "Dirty Dancing" actor may have a role on a new television show.

Patrick Swayze appears to be responding well to treatment, his doctor said.

With the writer's strike over, the pilot episode of "The Beast," starring Swayze as an unorthodox FBI agent, is being considered to be turned into a series by the A&E cable network.

If that happens, the "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost" star hopes to continue to be part of the show, his representative Annett Wolf told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Swayze has been undergoing treatment for the disease, Wolf confirmed in a statement. The National Cancer Institute estimates there will be 37,680 new cases of pancreatic cancer in 2008 with 34,290 deaths in the U.S.; only five percent of patients live more than five years after being diagnosed. Watch Dr. Sanjay Gupta explain the disease »

"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 Wolf.

"All of the reports stating the timeframe of his prognosis and his physical side effects are absolutely untrue. We are considerably more optimistic."

Wolf said Swayze, 55, shot "The Beast" pilot last December and is not currently working on any new projects.

A&E issued a statement Wednesday stating "The Beast" was still in contention to become one of the network's new original drama series and wished Swayze a speedy recovery.

[Lady Luck]

While I hope for the best for him...pancreatic cancer has an extremely small survival rate.

Unfortunately, you're right. From webmd.com...

What Is the Outlook for Pancreatic Cancer?
The American Cancer Society reports that only about 23% of patients with cancer of the exocrine pancreas are still living one year after diagnosis. Only about 4% are still living five years after being diagnosed.