Patrick Swayze: A Dying Breed

The Word is Out: Swayze has Cancer

As a big Patrick Swayze fan of the 80’s and 90’s, it was immensely surprising to learn of his recent prognosis. However, it is irresponsible for anyone to write that he has only a few weeks to live, irrespective of the circumstances. According to Swayze’s doctor, George Fisher, an Associate Professor at Stanford University Cancer Center, “Patrick has a very limited amount of disease and he appears to be responding well to treatment thus far.” That sounds very optimistic to me.

According to Mayo Clinic, “Pancreatic Cancer is one of the most serious of cancers. It develops when cancerous cells form in the tissues of your pancreas — a large organ that lies horizontally behind the lower part of your stomach.” The site goes on to say, “Pancreatic cancer spreads rapidly and is seldom detected in its early stages…. Signs and symptoms may not appear until the disease is quite advanced. By that time, the cancer is likely to have spread to other parts of the body and surgical removal is no longer possible.”

The supermarket tabloid National Enquirer broke the news of Swayze’s condition on Wednesday, March 5, 2008, claiming that the actor had only five weeks to live. Where did they get those “facts”? Even Swayze’s doctor said, “All of the reports stating the timeframe of his prognosis and his physical side effects are absolutely untrue.” We all know the Enquirer is a gossip paper, but there has to be a line drawn somewhere. It is obvious that he has had the disease for a while, and it is also logical that he could have only weeks to live, but it is irresponsible to prognosticate based on articles on pancreatic cancer, etc.

Aren’t people allowed to have some privacy? So what if the star did not want to disclose his condition. Isn’t that his right? Does that give anyone the right to victimize him? Isn’t that an abuse of power? And even though they updated the article to include his publicist’s statements abut his health, they still maintain that according to their source, his cancer has spread to other parts of his body. So what?

Another article circulating on the Internet, speculates as to the “cause” of the disease. They believe it has to do with his cigarette-smoking habits, and his temporary drinking problem. How many people do you know personally who has lived to be 80 or 90 years old, who has chain-smoked all their lives? It is very reckless to play the blaming game. Why can’t we just wish him all the best? According to Mayo Clinic, “about ten percent of pancreatic cancers results from an inherited tendency.” Couldn’t he be in that 10%?

Swayze is a person of faith, having been raised in the Catholic Church, so it is highly likely he is prepared for whatever the future holds. He is quoted to have said, “I have a great deal of faith in faith; if you believe something strongly enough, it becomes true for you. I would like to believe that … there's life after death -- because if there isn't, why are we here?” It is that kind of faith that gives him the strength to endure his father’s death, and now his own illness. So whether he has five weeks, five months or five years to live, he will embrace it knowing that death is only a transition into another life.

Swayze and Family

A fellow Leo, Swayze was born in Houston, Texas to Jesse Wayne, a champion rodeo cowboy, and Yvonne “Patsy” Swayze, a dancer and choreographer. It was at his mother’s Houston Jazz and Ballet company, that he met his future wife – she was fifteen then. They didn’t tie the knot until she turned 19 years of age. Swayze is four years her senior.

Swayze has been a role model in faithfulness for Hollywood, having been married to Lisa Niemi, a fellow Texan, for over 30 years. In Hollywood? Unbelievable! Niemi has also appeared in several of his films including Next of Kin and Steel Dawn. Remember Kasha, the movie’s damsel in distress?

Another interesting fact: Swayze’s co-star in Dirty Dancing, Jennifer Grey, also starred with him in Red Dawn. Patrick Swayze had two sisters, one of whom committed suicide. He has a younger brother, Sean Kyle Swayze, and an older brother, Don Swayze. Don is also a Leo and an actor.

See: "Cold Case" (1 episode, 2007)

- Shuffle, Ball Change (2007) TV episode ... Grant Hall,

- "Without a Trace" (1 episode, 2005) … Randy Stone

- "Charmed" (1 episode, 2005) ... Lucius

- "CSI: Miami" (1 episode, 2005) ... Norm Buford

Don Swayze is more a “silver-screen” actor, and has appeared in many other television shows.

Swayze's Career

Patrick Swayze received two Golden Globe nominations: One for his role in Dirty Dancing, and the other for his role in Ghost. In 1991, arguably at the height of his career, People Magazine named him one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. That same year, they also named in The Sexiest Man Alive.

Swayze and Misfortunes

Swayze is no stranger to illness and injuries. After his sister died, he fell into a series of depression and became an alcoholic. However, after checking into a rehab, he was “cured” and later retreated to his farm, Rancho Bizarro with his wife. During the filming of HBO’s Letters from a Killer, he fell from a horse and broke his legs. He also suffered injuries to his tendons in his shoulder. His father also died from a Heart Attack.

Support for Swayze

Since news broke of his condition, many celebrities have stepped forward to offer their support. Whoopi Goldberg, his co-star on Ghost said on her show, The View that she owed her Oscar to Swayze. Vanessa Williams, who lost her father to pancreatic cancer in 2006 said, “I lost my dad…. [It] gives you no real warning… my heart goes out to him.” She, William Shatner, and James Woods were all attending the 16th Annual Alzheimer’s Association benefit when news of Swayze’s illness was relayed. According to Woods who seemed shaken by the news, “I’m really hoping that Patrick Swayze has our best wishes and knows it…” William Shatner said, “My deepest sympathy….”

Swayze's Future

According to PageSix.com, who got the exclusive from the Swayze camp, “Patrick recently wrapped filming on the A&E TV pilot The Beast…” They obtained a statement from A&E regarding the show's future, “[We] recently completed a pilot with Patrick Swayze called The Beast, which is in contention to become one of the new drama series on the network. However, at this time all of our thoughts are solely with Patrick and his family. We are all wishing for a speedy recovery to a truly gifted actor."

My Favorite Swayze Movies

I have seen every Swayze movie of the 80’s and 90’s, except Letters form a Killer, Black Dog, Three Wishes, and Disney’s Tall Tale. Unfortunately, college took a toll on me so I haven’t watched anything after To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar with Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo.

Some of my favorite Swayze movies include:

Dirty Dancing, with Jennifer Grey

Ghost, with Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg

Next of Kin, Liam Neeson and Helen Hunt

Point Break, with Keanu Reeves

Road House, with Sam Elliot

The Outsiders, with Tom Cruise and Rob Lowe

Uncommon Valor, Gene Hackman and Fred Ward

Sources:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-03-05-swayze-cancer_N.htm

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

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000664/bio

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800020647/bio

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20182300,00.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pancreatic-cancer/DS00357

http://www.theinsideronline.com/news/2008/03/16417/index.html

http://www.pagesix.com/story/patrick+swayze+has+cancer