Valkyre

Patrick Swayze, Pancreatic Cancer

I remember the first time I ever set eyes on this guy. It was the scene in Dirty Dancing when he first walks in the dining hall. It's the first time the audience and Jennifer Grey sees him. Jennifer Grey's character, Baby, gasps. So did I. I thought he looked his best in that movie. It's still one of my favorites. Now, he's been diagnosed with cancer. Some sources have his foot in the grave. His doctors say that that diagnosis is an exaggeration. I hope that it's not that serious and he fully recovers.

Article here

Spokesman Says Swayze Has Pancreatic Cancer

Doctor Dispells Reports That Actor's Cancer Is Terminal

"Dirty Dancing" star Patrick Swayze is suffering from cancer, according to his physician, but is not in as dire condition other media outlets report.

The National Enquirer claimed in an online report Wednesday that it has learned in a "shocking world exclusive" that Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January and only has five weeks to live. The actor's publicist issued a statement saying the actor is being treated for cancer, but is responding well to the treatment.

The Enquirer also said that the cancer has spread to other organs. The report said that Swayze, 55, is receiving radical chemotherapy treatment as an outpatient at the Stanford Medical Center -- minutes from the Palo Alto, Calif., airport, where the actor and his wife, Lisa Niemi, have been flying to on their private plane.

Swayze's publicist issued the following statement to TMZ.com: "Actor Patrick Swayze has been diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and is currently undergoing treatment."

The statement continues: "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.'"

A "very good source" told celebrity blogger Perez Hilton that Swayze has been at rehearsals on a new cheerleading movie at a studio in Century City, Calif., and "definitely does not look like he has five more weeks of life left."

"I'm not sure of his medical condition(s), but if he is gravely ill, he is hiding it very well," the source said on Hilton's blog.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Swayze had surgery for a "serious gastro-intestinal procedure" at a California hospital in early February.

Swayze has starred in such films as "Ghost" and "Road House." He has been married to his wife, Niemi, since 1975

Posted by Valkyre at March 5, 2008 11:49 PM