Get well, Patrick Swayze

Yahoo is reporting that Patrick Swayze has pancreatic cancer so his life is in jeopardy. Trust me, he won't be with us much longer and I ask that you keep him in your prayers. I lost one of my mentors to pancreatic cancer at the end of June 2003, about six weeks or so from his being diagnosed. This one takes you really quickly no matter how much chemo.

Patrick Swayze is fighting pancreatic cancer, a rep for the actor has confirmed to Access Hollywood.

"Actor Patrick Swayze has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is currently undergoing treatment," a rep for the actor said in a statement released on Wednesday. "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."[...]

According to the statement, Swayze's physician Dr. George Fisher said, "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."

Despite the encouraging words from Dr. Fisher, oncologist Maurice Berkowitz told Access Hollywood the outlook for patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer is generally not good.

"Typically it's not a slow growing tumor, so people develop symptoms quickly and, if left untreated, the symptoms get worse," Berkowitz explained.

However, Berkowitz said there are new treatments providing hope to those afflicted with the disease.

"Some strides are being done and some people are doing very well," he added.

According to the American Cancer Society, the one-year survival rate is 20 percent, while the five-year rate is only 4 percent, for patients with pancreatic cancer.[...]

According to The Enquirer, Swayze (the star of such films including "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost") has been undergoing treatment at the Stanford University Medical Center. However, they also reported the cancer has spread and the actor has been told to prepare for the worst.