As you may have read earlier, Patrick Swayze, the actor best known for his roles in Dirty Dancing and Ghost lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on September 14, 2009. He was only 57.
The actor had been battling the illness for 20 months and until recently was thought to be getting just a little better. His dramatic and shocking weight loss had slowed and he almost looked like his old self.
Swayze was diagnosed in January of 2008. According to NY Times, six months after that, he had already outlived his prognosis. He was even filmed at an airport smiling for waiting photographers.
Recent high-profile celebrity cases have featured some of the worst [types of cancer]. Pancreatic cancer, unless caught very early, is pretty much a death sentence. Up against a four percent survival rate over five years, Swayze’s prognosis never looked great. Still, he and his people always assured the public he was fighting the disease and feeling positive about his future. Those with pancreatic cancer who are able to have the tumor reduced often have, at best, 18 to 20 months of survival; Swayze, who was diagnosed in early 2008, became another sad statistic. (Still, he fought bravely: reports constantly surfaced that Swayze was struggling; in May he was supposed to be near death, but lived on through the summer). (via News Week)
The actor worked through even the worst of his cancer battle. He was was compiling his memoirs and he wa also shooting A&E drama series The Beast.
See the initial report and also an archive of Patrick Swayze photos.
Image credit to Flynet Online.
My thoughts and prayers reach out to the family of Patrick swayze. His determination may have been defeated by death but his story of struggle and optimism in the face of pure evil will live on each day in our memories. He had constant reminders and thougtless stories of how bad it wa for him and he kept going. What a strong man that I will miss every day….I’ll see him another day in heaven. Rest in peace Patrick.
Thanks for leaving a message Jennifer B – that was a really touching note.
Damn. What a horrible year…
…just when we thought the aptly named Summer of Death was over