I feel very bad about Patrick Swayze

[madaboutharry]

The Huffington Post has the article that Patrick Swayze has pancreatic cancer.

[MadMaddie]

1. They say that usually by the time this type of cancer is found

it has already done it's terrible damage.

[NC_Nurse]

2. Very sad. Pancreatic cancer is very lethal. 3% survival rate.

:-(

[undeterred]

10. thats over a five year period

[Medusa]

12. I've never known anyone who lasted more than 3-6 months

it's about as bad as it gets. I'm told it's also an incredibly painful form of the disease.

[PsN2Wind]

30. Glad to meet you

I was diagnosed almost a year ago, been in chemo for almost 10 months and for the most part still go about my normal activities. I'm retired so my activities weren't particularly strenuous but I still do volunteer work.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

44. A friend of mine is going on two years, but then, she had

a very savvy doctor who first detected early liver problems and sent her to an internist, who found a tiny pancreatic malignancy that was affecting her liver.

[kath]

47. I know someone who was diagnosed more than 6 years ago and is doing great.

[NC_Nurse]

18. True, but most of the people I've known with it haven't lasted long at all.

[undeterred]

26. there was a bishop in Chicago who lived a couple of years

[seabeyond]

37. 3% is shit. hm... i am sorry for him too. n/t

[Gloria]

3. Oh, how terrible!!! Michael Landon also died from this horrible disease...

[JackBeck]

11. That's who immediately came to mind

when we heard this news.

Hoping for all the best for Mr. Swayze and his family.

[rosetta627]

23. Exactly my thought too.

And it was so fast.
He looked so fit.

[SidDithers]

45. Andy Stephenson came to mind for me...nt

Sid

[Gloria]

46. I didn't know that's what he had....I followed his situation, but somehow

didn't know! Thanks for the info, Sid.

[lonestarnot]

31. I still have his autograph and a special memory of him from when I was a young person.

I loved him.

[lonestarnot]

4. Oh man that is terrible.

Do you have a link?

[madaboutharry]

5. If you can go to Google news, it is on the

front page.

[Ilsa]

7. Here's a different report.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23488585

snip
The “Dirty Dancing” actor has a very limited amount of disease and appears to be responding well to treatment, according to Dr. George Fisher, Swayze’s physician. Fisher’s prognosis was included in a statement released Wednesday by Swayze’s representative, Annett Wolf.

“Patrick is continuing his normal schedule during this time, which includes working on upcoming projects,” the statement said.

It also said earlier reports that Swayze had a matter of weeks to live were exaggerated. “All of the reports stating the timeframe of his prognosis and his physical side effects are absolutely untrue. We are considerably more optimistic.”

[bobbolink]

6. At least he won't get the treatment Andy got....

:cry:

[Berry Cool]

8. The worst thing about it is that it's usually pretty quick.

Once people are diagnosed, it's often a matter of weeks or months. Sometimes they're lucky and get a few years.

It really stinks.

[DesertRat]

9. His doctor says the prognosis is untrue

Patrick Swayze is undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer but does not have just weeks to live, the actor's reps and doctor said Wednesday.

"Patrick has a very limited amount of disease and he appears to be responding well to treatment so far," Dr. George Fisher, Swayze's personal physician, said in a statement. "All of the reports stating the timeframe of his prognosis and his physical side effects are absolutely untrue."

Fisher's remarks were in rebuttal to the National Enquirer, which broke the news of Swayze's illness on its website and said the Dirty Dancing star had recently dropped 20 pounds and been given only five weeks to live.

"Patrick is continuing his normal schedule during this time," the actor's reps said, "which includes working on upcoming projects."

http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=95c876d8-ec3c-4835-92fa-31f160865351

[madaboutharry]

13. I think that they're putting the best face on this.

I have known two people who died of pancreatic cancer. I don't really believe that there is such a thing as "a limited amount" of pancreatic cancer. The survival rate is very low, that is known.

I wish him well.

[mcscajun]

15. I reluctantly must agree. "a limited amount of disease"?

He's got just a little bit of cancer? I wish him nothing but the best, I wish that he can and will stay with his loving wife for a long while yet; I hope he'll be one of the few to beat the odds and make it a couple of years more. All that said, the long-term prognosis isn't good, barring discovery of a new miracle.

Until this follow-up story was released with his doctor's statement, I was hoping that as the sole underlying source for All the news stories was the (ugh!) National Enquirer, that none of it was true. Looks like that hope is gone...and now, with what we've already seen of this insidious cancer, even seeing him make it through this year is a doubtful outcome, unfortunately. :(

[DesertRat]

16. I agree with you

and I also wish him well. :grouphug:

[Lost-in-FL]

17. The pancreas...

is at the center of the main digestive organs and also involved to the Lymphatic system and THIS is why is so lethal since it spreads very quickly.

[Lost-in-FL]

14. 3 months tops...

even with all that money for treatment. Very sad indeed.

[Old Codger]

19. had a friend

Who had it, was given 6 months, she lasted 2 years, had another friend same diagnosis, same prognosis, less than 2 months. Seems for a good part to depend on patients attitude a lot.

[Lost-in-FL]

20. Definitely... n/t

[Hawaii Hiker]

21. Isn't that a young age for Pancreatic cancer, I had thought

that form of cancer mostly occured in someone's late 60's to 70's, can anyone shed light on that?

Terrible news, I hope he can beat it.

[greenbriar]

25. wasn't Michael Landon pretty young too?

like 50's or 60's?

[seabeyond]

38. the ones that get it in thirties and forties generally hAve a much quicker moving

one than those that are oler in their 60's and 70's

[rosetta627]

22. Just awful, so incredibly sad

Dammit. It flat out sucks.

[KharmaTrain]

24. A Horrible Way To Go...

I worked with someone who contracted Pancreatic cancer...went from vibrant to a shell of his former self in a few weeks and, mercifully, his suffering ended shortly thereafter...I'd say less than 3 months from him telling us his diagnosis and he was gone. The real tragedy is this man was in his early 50s and left behind several children and a lot of bills. To the credit of the community, we raised money that was set aside in college trust funds for those kids (all of whom are long grown) and found jobs for his older kids. It showed the best in people.

Here's hoping Mr. Swayze rests comfortably and his suffering is dampered by the thoughts of all who care about him and all the good things he's done.

Peace...

[Mike03]

27. Thank you for posting your kind thoughts about this.

There's nothing I can really add to what others have said.

Cancer is the worst demon we face, and we need to find some way to beat it. Pancreatic cancer is one of the worst.

[Feron]

28. I agree.

Pancreatic cancer is simply horrible. The father of a family friend had it and he suffered terribly before he died.

I've never really been a fan of Swayze's, but I feel for him and his family. I wish him all the best.

[shadowknows69]

29. That sucks, my wife's brother died of this.

It's quick and mean.

[libnnc]

32. Oh no how awful!

My partner's sister and mother both died from pancreatic cancer. Her sister had aggressive, intense chemo and it bought her about a month. It ended up spreading to her bones (as a physician, she wondered if the treatment accelerated the spread to the bones). All cancer is bad but pancreatic is so quick and aggressive, it seems vengeful -- evil even.

Thoughts and good vibes to him and his family. I hope they have a strong emotional support network of friends.

[Dorian Gray]

33. I heard this earlier

It's so sad. I know the odds aren't good for sufferers of pancreatic cancer. I hope he can beat the odds.

[catnhatnh]

34. My cousin's husband was diagnosed about 18 months back....

....he had the Whipple that we tried to get for Andy about a 12-15 months or so ago.He still around though I heard a week ago it might be recurring...

[Blue_In_AK]

35. My daughters will be so distraught...

I can't count the number of times we've watched "Dirty Dancing" around this house. :cry: This is really, really sad.

[JI7]

36. sad to hear this

he seems like a good person also.

[El Pinko]

39. Luckily for him he has access to the best of medical care...

unlike 40% or more of Americans, who pretty much just have to grin and bear it when they get cancer...

[Toucano]

40. That's too bad.

I don't care for him as a performer, but that's a terrible fate for anyone.

Good Luck, Patrick.

[xmas74]

41. That's too bad.

My best friend and I watch Dirty Dancing every time we need a pick-me-up. Now every time we see him it'll just make us both even sadder than before.

[bdamomma]

42. oh, I love Patrick Swayze

I hope everything works out for him, they reported that they have his condition monitored, and he is responding well to treatment.

How could you ever forget him in "Dirty Dancing", oh Johnny!!!!

[NashVegas]

43. That's What Killed Bill Hicks

Swayze may not be Olivier, but he earned a place in pop culture.

:(