Like every other thirteen-year-old girl at the time, I fell desperately, hopelessly, eternally in love with Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing. Now it appears that, at age 55, he's got pancreatic cancer. His doctors sound optimistic, but as far as I know the five year survival rate on pancreatic cancer is statistically indistinguishable from zero. What a tragedy. I will spare you the maudlin recollections of my own mortality that this spawns, but I imagine I'm joined in them by millions of American women.
« Bleg | Main | Employment situation: mildly grim » Patrick Swayze terminally ill07 Mar 2008 10:07 am Comments (18)
Unfortunately, Megan, you're right. According to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, "For all stages of pancreatic cancer combined, the five year survival rate is only 5%; the lowest survival rate of all major cancers." This is really incredibly sad. 
There are 2 types. One is easily curable. Steve Jobs had it in 2004 and had to take a month off for surgery. Doesn't sound like that's what Patrick Swayze has though.
Roadhouse! I can't find the whole thing online but the Chippendale's skit he did on SNL with Chris Farley is classic.
This headline was tactless and gratuitous.
"Maudlin recollections of my own mortality?" Dude, Prince is having hip surgery.
I'm no cultural critic, and also, not thirteen, so I don't have much to say about this
Having known Patrick from a distance for
It can happen though. I have a good friend who is approaching his 5th year of survival this year, and is doing well. He still has to have regular chemo, because they took so much of his pancreas during surgery that they simply cannot risk taking a chance that he's in full remission.
"This headline was tactless and gratuitous."
thehova wrote: How so? I can't think of a different title. MM posted a couple entries back when Heath Ledger accidentally did himself in with an accidental overdose of about seven different prescription drugs, focusing heavily on the prescription drug aspect. She was promptly assaulted by a Heath Ledger fan club which expected that MM should instead be walking on broken glass for their sake. Three or four of the posts here, including the one you replied to, are an acetic swipe at those people.
From what I've heard of pancreatic cancer, you are lucky if you die a slow, painful death.
I lost my mother to pancreatic cancer 4 1/2 years ago. She was diagnosed 22 months before that. The bottom line is that there are good treatments that can extend life by a year or more, but the 5-year news is as grim as ever. Swayze is unfortunately not the first and won't be the last celebrity diagnosed with this. Michael Landon and Richard Donner are two that come to mind.
How sad for him. I hope it'll get renewed attention on this unusually deadly form of cancer.
My girlfriend's best friend was just diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and given three to six months to live. I understand the problem to be that it's undetectable until it's in a very advanced state. It's not that it's particularly deadly compared to other cancers, it's that no one knows about it until it's too late.
It's not that it's particularly deadly compared to other cancers, it's that no one knows about it until it's too late. Actually it is. The mutated, cancerous cells metasize fairly readily, and are very resistant to current chemo and radiation treatment in a way that exceeds most other types. They are NOT as fast-growing and dividing as certain other malignant cells, but above average.
My father-in-law had pancreatic cancer nearly 6-7 years ago. He was lucky, however, he had the incredibly long 'whipple' operation that removes part of the pancreas. When they did they discovered the tumor was 'encapsulated'. He was one of the rare 5% or so who had the 'curable' type and is still alive today.
My father has just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. At this time it has already spread to his liver. There isn't much that can be done after the disease reaches that stage.
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My uncle in Germany had a transplant. Don't know if he managed 5 years (he is dead now), but it was certainly quite a few. Based on his drinking (as a side effect, this cured his diabetes, so he was able to drink again - and BOY did he take advantage of that!) last time I saw him, the liver would have been challenged to keep up anyway.
Posted by jens fiederer | March 7, 2008 10:22 AM