Patrick Swayze: "I'm Going Through Hell" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

MonarC · 01-06-2009, 03:41 PM

Patrick Swayze has always been a fighter on the big screen. Now he's proving his warrior worth in real life.

Speaking out in detail about his battle with pancreatic cancer, the 56-year-old actor tells Barbara Walters of his daily struggles, including his insistence not to take pain medication while filming his new A&E crime drama, The Beast, premiering next week.

"I've never been one to run from a challenge," Swayze said during the interview, which airs Wednesday and was excerpted today on ABCNews.com. "You can bet that I'm going through hell. And I've only seen the beginning of it."

While again refuting tabloid rumors that he's on his deathbed, the Ghost star admitted the cancer has generated "a lot of fear," particularly after learning it had spread to his liver.

"There's a lot of stuff going on," he added. "Yeah, I'm scared. Yeah, I'm angry. Yeah, I'm [asking], why me? Yeah, I'm all this stuff."

Swayze, looking lean but still fit, also opened up about the moment he first discovered he had the cancer; it was one year ago on New Year's Eve.

"I tried to have champagne, and it would be like pouring acid, you know, on an open wound," he said. "My indigestion issues got gigantic and constant. And then I started thinking, I'm getting skinny. I dropped about 20 pounds in the blink of an eye. And then when you see it in the mirror, when all of a sudden, you pull your eyes down and the bottom of your eyes go yellow and jaundice sets in—then you know something's wrong."

The former Dirty Dancer also talked about the agony of chemotherapy treatments during The Beast's five-month shoot, which ended up bringing added intensity to his role as an undercover FBI agent.

"When you're shooting, you can't do drugs," Swayze said. "I can't do hydrocodone or Vicodin or these kinds of things that take the edge off of it, 'cause it takes the edge off of your brain."

As it stands now, Swayze has sworn off the chemo in favor of a new treatment.

"What winning is to me is not giving up, is no matter what's thrown at me, I can take it," Swayze said. "And I can keep going."

E!
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My thoughts and prayers are with him. I also have a family member who is dying from pancreatic cancer they gave her less than a month to live. I really hope and pray that they find a cure for cancer.

Sharop · 01-06-2009, 03:47 PM

I believe in the power of positive thinking - Patrick Swayze seems to be really trying to battle this. If he can just keep his mind positive and keep fighting then maybe he'll pull through this. I hope so.

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 01-06-2009, 04:41 PM

Poor guy.

I hope he gets better.

catlover79 · 01-06-2009, 04:42 PM

Keep fighting, Patrick!!

Janice · 01-06-2009, 04:53 PM

The poor guy got one of the unbeatable cancers, for the most part. My husband's best friend died in September of the same disease. It ain't pretty. It claimed Michael Landon's life as well.

browneyes106 · 01-06-2009, 07:09 PM

I hope Patrick can beat it.

Mr. Television · 01-06-2009, 07:14 PM

It just breaks your heart.

*Happy Face* · 01-06-2009, 07:30 PM

I pray everyday for Patrick. My paternal grandmother died from pancreatic
cancer.And Dad says she suffered alot.Poor Grandma,could cook meals or
clean the house for the family because she was in so much pain.
So I'm imagine Mr.Swayze is going through alot right now.
So hard to believe that this happened to such a great actor.

Lee · 01-07-2009, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

The poor guy got one of the unbeatable cancers, for the most part. My husband's best friend died in September of the same disease. It ain't pretty. It claimed Michael Landon's life as well.

So you don't think Patrick can make it?

Penny Lane · 01-07-2009, 11:00 AM

Pancreatic cancer is very serious. People rarely recover from it. I know of at least 5 people personally who died from it. I think that it is what killed Michael Landon. Usually by the time that it is diagnosed it is too late. I sincerely hope that he can beat this thing! So sad!

Chocoholic · 01-07-2009, 11:10 AM

Pancreatic cancer is one of the worst. My friend's uncle was diagnosed a couple of years ago. He was given 3 to 5 months, but lasted just over a year. He was a great guy too, and only 56. I don't understand why good people have to suffer like that.

My prayers go out to Patrick and his family.

01-06-2009, 03:41 PM	#1
MonarC The truth will set you free Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 05, 2002 Location: 3rd Stone From The Sun Posts: 9,525	Patrick Swayze: "I'm Going Through Hell" Patrick Swayze has always been a fighter on the big screen. Now he's proving his warrior worth in real life. Speaking out in detail about his battle with pancreatic cancer, the 56-year-old actor tells Barbara Walters of his daily struggles, including his insistence not to take pain medication while filming his new A&E crime drama, The Beast, premiering next week. "I've never been one to run from a challenge," Swayze said during the interview, which airs Wednesday and was excerpted today on ABCNews.com. "You can bet that I'm going through hell. And I've only seen the beginning of it." While again refuting tabloid rumors that he's on his deathbed, the Ghost star admitted the cancer has generated "a lot of fear," particularly after learning it had spread to his liver. "There's a lot of stuff going on," he added. "Yeah, I'm scared. Yeah, I'm angry. Yeah, I'm [asking], why me? Yeah, I'm all this stuff." Swayze, looking lean but still fit, also opened up about the moment he first discovered he had the cancer; it was one year ago on New Year's Eve. "I tried to have champagne, and it would be like pouring acid, you know, on an open wound," he said. "My indigestion issues got gigantic and constant. And then I started thinking, I'm getting skinny. I dropped about 20 pounds in the blink of an eye. And then when you see it in the mirror, when all of a sudden, you pull your eyes down and the bottom of your eyes go yellow and jaundice sets in—then you know something's wrong." The former Dirty Dancer also talked about the agony of chemotherapy treatments during The Beast's five-month shoot, which ended up bringing added intensity to his role as an undercover FBI agent. "When you're shooting, you can't do drugs," Swayze said. "I can't do hydrocodone or Vicodin or these kinds of things that take the edge off of it, 'cause it takes the edge off of your brain." As it stands now, Swayze has sworn off the chemo in favor of a new treatment. "What winning is to me is not giving up, is no matter what's thrown at me, I can take it," Swayze said. "And I can keep going." E! ---------------------------- My thoughts and prayers are with him. I also have a family member who is dying from pancreatic cancer they gave her less than a month to live. I really hope and pray that they find a cure for cancer.

01-06-2009, 03:47 PM	#2
Sharop Andy Gibb aged 12 Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 03, 2004 Location: Courthouse Square, Hill Valley, beside the clocktower, 10:04 p.m., November 12th 1955 Posts: 3,912	I believe in the power of positive thinking - Patrick Swayze seems to be really trying to battle this. If he can just keep his mind positive and keep fighting then maybe he'll pull through this. I hope so.
	__________________ http://rainbowlight.proboards102.com My new astral projection forums Doc: Don't worry! As long as you hit that wire with the connecting hook at precisely 88 miles per hour, the instant the lightning strikes the tower, everything will be fine!

01-06-2009, 04:41 PM	#3
Pleasant Tomorrow Member Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 19, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 69,525	Poor guy. I hope he gets better.
	__________________ my name is ashlee Welcome! Everything is fine.

01-06-2009, 04:42 PM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Keep fighting, Patrick!!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

01-06-2009, 07:14 PM	#7
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,127	It just breaks your heart.
	__________________ Sonny

01-06-2009, 04:53 PM	#5
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	The poor guy got one of the unbeatable cancers, for the most part. My husband's best friend died in September of the same disease. It ain't pretty. It claimed Michael Landon's life as well.

01-06-2009, 07:09 PM	#6
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,097	I hope Patrick can beat it.

01-06-2009, 07:30 PM	#8
Happy Face Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 26, 2007 Location: The most boring place on Earth... Posts: 108	I pray everyday for Patrick. My paternal grandmother died from pancreatic cancer.And Dad says she suffered alot.Poor Grandma,could cook meals or clean the house for the family because she was in so much pain. So I'm imagine Mr.Swayze is going through alot right now. So hard to believe that this happened to such a great actor.

01-07-2009, 11:00 AM	#10
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 50,986	Pancreatic cancer is very serious. People rarely recover from it. I know of at least 5 people personally who died from it. I think that it is what killed Michael Landon. Usually by the time that it is diagnosed it is too late. I sincerely hope that he can beat this thing! So sad!
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

01-07-2009, 11:10 AM	#11
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	Pancreatic cancer is one of the worst. My friend's uncle was diagnosed a couple of years ago. He was given 3 to 5 months, but lasted just over a year. He was a great guy too, and only 56. I don't understand why good people have to suffer like that. My prayers go out to Patrick and his family.