OT - Swayze says he hopes to live two more years

[Don]

The guy is being very upfront about everything

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7815115.stm

Actor Patrick Swayze, who has pancreatic cancer, has admitted he may survive only two years.

Speaking in his first US TV interview since he was diagnosed with the disease, the Dirty Dancing star said he was "scared" and "going through hell".

The 56-year-old refused painkillers while working on new TV drama The Beast, and missed only a day-and-a-half of the show's tough filming schedule.

He also denied being on his deathbed and "saying goodbye to people".

"Am I dying? Am I giving up? Am I on my death bed? Am I saying goodbye to people? No way," Swayze told TV interviewer Barbara Walters.

But the star, whose other screen credits include romantic movie Ghost, admitted that he still asks himself: "Why me?"

Swayze added that he wanted to survive long enough for a cure to be found, but said that beating the disease for five years was "pretty wishful thinking".

"I keep dreaming of a future, a future with a long and healthy life, not lived in the shadow of cancer but in the light," he said.

The actor added that people thought he was "out of his mind" to shoot the new detective series while undergoing a rigorous and experimental treatment - and without pain relief.

The Beast is due to debut on US cable channel A&E next week.

"When you're shooting you can't do drugs... 'cos it takes the edge off your brain," said Swayze.

He was diagnosed with the disease early last year, and in December issued a statement denying US tabloid reports that he was close to death.

He said that he was winning his fight against cancer and called the stories "lies and false information".

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most virulent forms of cancer which medical experts say has a 5% five-year survival rate.

[Shadowsong]

My thoughts & prayers go out to him & his family.
I had a friend die from it in 1999.
He only lived 4 months after having symptoms.
Pancreas is one of the worst cancers.

[Ehwmatt]

It really is a nightmare diagnosis. Can't think of many diseases that have an across-the-board worse prognosis aside from the sure killers like HIV/AIDS.

Thoughts with Patrick...

[StevePerryHair]

I just watched he and his wife with Barbara Walters. What strong willed people they are. So sad yet inspiring too. Cancer sucks.

[WIX]

Watching it now, reality break. Life may not end up the way you thought it would!

[bluejeangirl76]

I just watched he and his wife with Barbara Walters.

I did too... they're such a sweet couple, and very loving. That's something very special they have there.

[Jana]

I just watched he and his wife with Barbara Walters. What strong willed people they are. So sad yet inspiring too. Cancer sucks

Amazing interview. So emotionally raw and honest and their love is so beautiful.

[StevePerryHair]

I just watched he and his wife with Barbara Walters.

I did too... they're such a sweet couple, and very loving. That's something very special they have there.

Definitely a very rare thing they have together!

[Jana]

It reminded me of Randy Pausch, the college professor who died of pancreatic cancer last year. He gave the Last Lecture. He was an amazing person and had a huge spirit and fight in him, with a lot of humor. If anybody on here doesn't know about him they should check him out on the internet. He had a book come out based on it b/f he died. He was in his forties. He lived several years.

[Ftloperry]

That has to be one of Barbara's best interviews ever. Patrick is such an inspiration and the love he and his wife share is amazing. They truly are soul mates. My prayers and thoughts to Patrick and his wife. What a touching yet raw look into his private life as he faces the biggest battle of his life.

[Jana]

That has to be one of Barbara's best interviews ever. Patrick is such an inspiration and the love he and his wife share is amazing. They truly are soul mates. My prayers and thoughts to Patrick and his wife. What a touching yet raw look into his private life as he faces the biggest battle of his life.

It really was one of Barbara's best interviews. She asked very honest, probing questions, and didn't skirt around things. And he gave you a peak into his life and pain.

[Shadowsong]

Its on now but I don't know if I would have want to watch it.
My friend turned yellow that's when he first knew something was wrong.
Watching an athletic man turned into a bloated mass of skin & bones is not pretty.
I was there til the very last breath in the hospital.
I remember praying for him to be taken as he lay unconscious cancer everywhere.
It was September 11, 1999 with Venus visible from the hospital window when he passed in the early hours as I sat all night without sleep watching. I held his hand speaking to him & I felt it tighten as he took that final breath & the line went straight.

I can never forget the date as it was 9/11 but also it was my fathers birthday in Australia which is 9/12

[Arianddu]

Its on now but I don't know if I would have want to watch it.
My friend turned yellow that's when he first knew something was wrong.
Watching an athletic man turned into a bloated mass of skin & bones is not pretty.
I was there til the very last breath in the hospital.
I remember praying for him to be taken as he lay unconscious cancer everywhere.
It was September 11, 1999 with Venus visible from the hospital window when he passed in the early hours as I sat all night without sleep watching. I held his hand speaking to him & I felt it tighten as he took that final breath & the line went straight.

That hurts to read. Have had the same thing happen. Shadowsong you'll know there aren't words, but... I wish there were, and the words I don't have my heart is sending you, ok?

[Shadowsong]

Kind of makes me mad at myself for feeling bad about the problems I face in life.
It puts things in perspective.

Thank you from my heart!!!
but I have no hurt
I became numb.
I sent him off to another world.
I had to be strong for him & that's what I was.
I could not allow his cancer to weaken me.
Still those few months were so hard on me.
He went through chemo in the hope of slowing it
but it still took him in a matter of months

The last night I went up to his apt to check on him I made him soup but he couldn't eat.
I remember getting mad as I guess it was hard on me...it was hard on me...but he was brave
I put him to bed & he looked to the ceiling & said
Do you see them?
I didn't see anything but he always called me an angel
which I am not
but I think perhaps they came for him that night.
the next day he didn't answer his phone for too long
so I had to climb into the tiny bathroom window to see if he was ok.
He just lay on the bed
I called his brother & they took him to the hospital
& there he lay for his final days.

I am strong
I have no hurt
I did what I would want a friend to do for me
I'm only pissed at Olive view when he went into the hospital for diagnosis on July the 4th
they let him lay there without any food waiting tests for an entire weekend because the doctors were on holiday!
Those were a few of his last precious days & he deserved better than that!

I sympathize with you & my heart goes out to you too...as I know something like this can leave its mark for a very long time...

I still think we just change shape & form
like ice becoming water than becoming steam
all the same just in another existance...

[Enigma869]

Can't think of many diseases that have an across-the-board worse prognosis aside from the sure killers like HIV/AIDS.

Sadly, pancreatic cancer is FAR worse when it comes to dying quickly than HIV is. Magic Johnson has been living with HIV for almost 20 years and is still going strong. Patrick Swayze has already lived longer than most do after the diagnosis of this dreadful disease.

[CatEyes]

I still think we just change shape & form
like ice becoming water than becoming steam

that is an amazing analogy!!

Thank you.

Cat

[G.I.Jim]

You know...while I really loved the interview (it was hard to see him like that!), I don't agree with a couple of the questions Barbara asked, and I think they were in poor taste. Whe she asked his wife "have you thought about what you'll do without him", you could tell Patrick didn't like that one, and answered "she'll be fine!". I just thought...how could you ask someone that with the person they love more than life sitting right next to them who's very near death???

The other question I didn't like was "How long do you think you're going to live". Again...I just think it was a very poor question that you don't ask of someone who's knocking on heavens door.

It was very encouraging to see him be so positive, but I don't think by his looks and demeanor that he has more than a few weeks. He really looks rough, and you can tell he's getting really weak. I wish them the best of luck with this battle!

[StevePerryHair]

You know...while I really loved the interview (it was hard to see him like that!), I don't agree with a couple of the questions Barbara asked, and I think they were in poor taste. Whe she asked his wife "have you thought about what you'll do without him", you could tell Patrick didn't like that one, and answered "she'll be fine!". I just thought...how could you ask someone that with the person they love more than life sitting right next to them who's very near death???

The other question I didn't like was "How long do you think you're going to live". Again...I just think it was a very poor question that you don't ask of someone who's knocking on heavens door.

It was very encouraging to see him be so positive, but I don't think by his looks and demeanor that he has more than a few weeks. He really looks rough, and you can tell he's getting really weak. I wish them the best of luck with this battle!

I agree, I didn't like those questions either. The fact they could sit through something like that shows their strength though. I don't think there are too many people or couples who would take such a private and precious and tragic time for them and share it with the world like that. That's amazing to me.

[Babyblue]

I just watched he and his wife with Barbara Walters. What strong willed people they are. So sad yet inspiring too. Cancer sucks.

Amen My dad died from the samething. Patrick you are in my thoughts and prayers.

[Luvsaugeri]

Can't think of many diseases that have an across-the-board worse prognosis aside from the sure killers like HIV/AIDS.

Sadly, pancreatic cancer is FAR worse when it comes to dying quickly than HIV is. Magic Johnson has been living with HIV for almost 20 years and is still going strong. Patrick Swayze has already lived longer than most do after the diagnosis of this dreadful disease.

That's exactly right. I'm really surprised he is still alive.

And I'm pissed I forgot to watch the interview. Wonder if it's online anywhere?

[Melissa]

You know...while I really loved the interview (it was hard to see him like that!), I don't agree with a couple of the questions Barbara asked, and I think they were in poor taste. Whe she asked his wife "have you thought about what you'll do without him", you could tell Patrick didn't like that one, and answered "she'll be fine!". I just thought...how could you ask someone that with the person they love more than life sitting right next to them who's very near death???

The other question I didn't like was "How long do you think you're going to live". Again...I just think it was a very poor question that you don't ask of someone who's knocking on heavens door.

It was very encouraging to see him be so positive, but I don't think by his looks and demeanor that he has more than a few weeks. He really looks rough, and you can tell he's getting really weak. I wish them the best of luck with this battle!

I watched it too and literally cringed when she asked those questions too. It was hard to see him like that, even his voice was so weak. Amazing how strong his wife is. What they are going through, if anything like my father and my family and myself did when my mother battled breast cancer and lost, it's extremely traumatic to watch what cancer does to someone you love. I tried to block it all out the last 3 years and figured that trauma would just go away, but nope, it caught up to me big time and I'm in the middle of working through that with help. I hope for tons of strength for his wife and family, and hope for as much peace as possible for him.

[Deb]

You know...while I really loved the interview (it was hard to see him like that!), I don't agree with a couple of the questions Barbara asked, and I think they were in poor taste. Whe she asked his wife "have you thought about what you'll do without him", you could tell Patrick didn't like that one, and answered "she'll be fine!". I just thought...how could you ask someone that with the person they love more than life sitting right next to them who's very near death???

The other question I didn't like was "How long do you think you're going to live". Again...I just think it was a very poor question that you don't ask of someone who's knocking on heavens door.

It was very encouraging to see him be so positive, but I don't think by his looks and demeanor that he has more than a few weeks. He really looks rough, and you can tell he's getting really weak. I wish them the best of luck with this battle!

I watched it too and literally cringed when she asked those questions too. It was hard to see him like that, even his voice was so weak. Amazing how strong his wife is. What they are going through, if anything like my father and my family and myself did when my mother battled breast cancer and lost, it's extremely traumatic to watch what cancer does to someone you love. I tried to block it all out the last 3 years and figured that trauma would just go away, but nope, it caught up to me big time and I'm in the middle of working through that with help. I hope for tons of strength for his wife and family, and hope for as much peace as possible for him.

Awe Melly, you're one of my favorite people on the board, big hugz coming your way. May you get all the peace you need as you work through it. You're a strong woman.

[Jana]

You know...while I really loved the interview (it was hard to see him like that!), I don't agree with a couple of the questions Barbara asked, and I think they were in poor taste. Whe she asked his wife "have you thought about what you'll do without him", you could tell Patrick didn't like that one, and answered "she'll be fine!". I just thought...how could you ask someone that with the person they love more than life sitting right next to them who's very near death???

The other question I didn't like was "How long do you think you're going to live". Again...I just think it was a very poor question that you don't ask of someone who's knocking on heavens door.

It was very encouraging to see him be so positive, but I don't think by his looks and demeanor that he has more than a few weeks. He really looks rough, and you can tell he's getting really weak. I wish them the best of luck with this battle!

I watched it too and literally cringed when she asked those questions too. It was hard to see him like that, even his voice was so weak. Amazing how strong his wife is. What they are going through, if anything like my father and my family and myself did when my mother battled breast cancer and lost, it's extremely traumatic to watch what cancer does to someone you love. I tried to block it all out the last 3 years and figured that trauma would just go away, but nope, it caught up to me big time and I'm in the middle of working through that with help. I hope for tons of strength for his wife and family, and hope for as much peace as possible for him.

Melissa, I'm so sorry for your loss, but it does get easier. My mother had cancer and it had spread to her brain. It was brutual. There were no Hallmark moments. She was like a stroke victim. My sister and I helped take care of her b/c my dad was elderly, and once she lost the ability to walk, we both went part-time and took turns traveling to another city to take care of her. I was a mess, because I needed her as much as she needed me, but I couldn't reach her emotionally b/c of the brain cancer. The memories were horrific of all she went through, and I never thought those memories would fade. But it was an honor to see her through her battle b/c of all the sacrifice and love I received from her my whole life. But those memories eventually do fade with time, and now my memories are of the wonderful, vibrant mother and woman she was, not those last tragic months of her life.

[Melissa]

You know...while I really loved the interview (it was hard to see him like that!), I don't agree with a couple of the questions Barbara asked, and I think they were in poor taste. Whe she asked his wife "have you thought about what you'll do without him", you could tell Patrick didn't like that one, and answered "she'll be fine!". I just thought...how could you ask someone that with the person they love more than life sitting right next to them who's very near death???

The other question I didn't like was "How long do you think you're going to live". Again...I just think it was a very poor question that you don't ask of someone who's knocking on heavens door.

It was very encouraging to see him be so positive, but I don't think by his looks and demeanor that he has more than a few weeks. He really looks rough, and you can tell he's getting really weak. I wish them the best of luck with this battle!

I watched it too and literally cringed when she asked those questions too. It was hard to see him like that, even his voice was so weak. Amazing how strong his wife is. What they are going through, if anything like my father and my family and myself did when my mother battled breast cancer and lost, it's extremely traumatic to watch what cancer does to someone you love. I tried to block it all out the last 3 years and figured that trauma would just go away, but nope, it caught up to me big time and I'm in the middle of working through that with help. I hope for tons of strength for his wife and family, and hope for as much peace as possible for him.

Melissa, I'm so sorry for your loss, but it does get easier. My mother had cancer and it had spread to her brain. It was brutual. There were no Hallmark moments. She was like a stroke victim. My sister and I helped take care of her b/c my dad was elderly, and once she lost the ability to walk, we both went part-time and took turns traveling to another city to take care of her. I was a mess, because I needed her as much as she needed me, but I couldn't reach her emotionally b/c of the brain cancer. The memories were horrific of all she went through, and I never thought those memories would fade. But it was an honor to see her through her battle b/c of all the sacrifice and love I received from her my whole life. But those memories eventually do fade with time, and now my memories are of the wonderful, vibrant mother and woman she was, not those last tragic months of her life.

Oh thank you, and I'm sorry for your loss too. Horrific is pretty much the only way to describe what she went through without details. And I look forward to those memories fading also. I'm glad you found peace. I look forward to that too.

Thank you Deb too, l-ya.

[nikki]

For those who missed the interview, it can be viewed in parts on YouTube from links on this page.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... type=&aq=f

[Michigan Girl]

Can't think of many diseases that have an across-the-board worse prognosis aside from the sure killers like HIV/AIDS.

Sadly, pancreatic cancer is FAR worse when it comes to dying quickly than HIV is. Magic Johnson has been living with HIV for almost 20 years and is still going strong. Patrick Swayze has already lived longer than most do after the diagnosis of this dreadful disease.

That's exactly right. I'm really surprised he is still alive.

And I'm pissed I forgot to watch the interview. Wonder if it's online anywhere?

Ditto......I hope it is a good two years, so sad!!!

[Luvsaugeri]

For those who missed the interview, it can be viewed in parts on YouTube from links on this page.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... type=&aq=f

Thanks Nikki!

[StevePerryHair]

I just saw a report that says he checked himself into a hospital for pneumonia

[Ehwmatt]

Can't think of many diseases that have an across-the-board worse prognosis aside from the sure killers like HIV/AIDS.

Sadly, pancreatic cancer is FAR worse when it comes to dying quickly than HIV is. Magic Johnson has been living with HIV for almost 20 years and is still going strong. Patrick Swayze has already lived longer than most do after the diagnosis of this dreadful disease.

How Magic Johnson looks better after two decades of HIV than I do when I get a cold is beyond me . But yeah, I can't really think of a single modern disease off the top of my head, whether preventable like HIV or not, that carries a worse and more imminent prognosis. Just terrible.

[Don]

I just saw a report that says he checked himself into a hospital for pneumonia

Yeah, that's true. It's not looking good.