Oh, jeez... that Chippendale's sketch with Farley was landmark. God bless him.

In Other News...

My stepfather died of pancreatic cancer last summer, about nine months after he was diagnosed. He was a longtime vegetarian, marathon runner and the healthiest man I knew, but he was cursed with bad genes. He fought it for nine months, but pancreatic cancer is a killer.

This is a horrible, horrible disease. My heart goes out to Patrick and his family.

AlbanyEd

Jesus, what a shame. He always struck me as being a really nice guy.

meerkat

Shit, that sucks. I lost a good friend to pancreatic cancer--that stuff moves fast. Hope this turns out to be one of those kinda-true-but-dramatically-overblown stories, and he's able to recover.

Dave J.

Damn, that makes me sad.

MsMuffinMcGuffin

Oh that is just so sad. My prayers are with him. Imagine what he and his family are going through now. Such a shame. And I was never much of a fan. But he seems like a good guy.

Bellyboop

My father died of pancreatic cancer. It was a long and horrible battle that went on for over 3 years. My thoughts go out to Patrick and his family.

crackbabyjesus

Ditto, Patrick. Ditto.

SilverFlake

So, so sad. Like everyone else, I really hope this isn't correct (like, at all). But my prayers to him and his family.

I'm totally disillusioned. All of the "good ones" keep kicking it while every other nitwit or war monger lives on without so much as a limp or a facial tic!

sassypants

NOBODY tell my mom.

sicksteanein

Aren't these posts just supposed to have a picture and a funny caption?

Malis in Wonderland

I am no longer ashamed to knowing Batboy was WWN... it would appear the rest of you were devotees of the rag too.

BGGA

I did find this from about a month ago:

Patrick Swayze hospitalised for "gastro-intestinal procedure"

His spokesperson added that the unspecified treatment went well and he is now "home and happy".

Dave J.

For what it's worth, I found an article from early February about Swayze undergoing a "serious gastrointestinal procedure" at the same hospital where he is allegedly now undergoing his cancer treatment. Not rock-solid confirmation of the tragic news, but probably not a good sign that this is all overblown either.

[fametastic.co.uk]

mordecai1908

BATBOY came to us courtesy of the World Weekly News, the National Enquirer. In any case, I do hope this is a case of an overstated health scare.

BGGA

Come on people! This isn't Page Six! It's the National Enquirer! Believe it!

Your GPA

A Google News search reveals the expected: A bunch of blogs re-reporting the NE story.

I guess this answers the "Why doesn't anyone do actual reporting anymore?" question.

Big John

@the cajun boy: As will I when I watch Point Break on TNT.

I'll be praying for that miracle.

Mokers

If Patrick Swayze gets thrown over a cliff it will officially be the saddest thing to ever happen.

NeverEnough

Swayze's publicist, please make a statement before this unsubstantiated story flies all over the webbernets. Oops, too late.

Sloan

So sad! In honor of Patrick, I will finally acknowledge the fact that I developed a huge crush on him while watching "North and South" back in the day.

jupiterspaw

@SugartitsMcFirecrotch: "in which" to leave this life - dimwit!

This news is robbing me of my typing faculties.

SugartitsMcFirecrotch

i'll cry even more now whenever i watch ghost on tbs.

the cajun boy

This is really sad news. I hope it isn't true.

My friend's mother died of PC and it moves really quickly and painfully.

Theda_Bara

I wonder if he too, will get left out of next year's dead people montage at the Oscars?

Greasy Thumb Guzik

i dunno...i need a legit mag!!!

Nomi Malone

Pancreatic cancer took Bill Hicks (who I knew and miss badly) WAY before his time . . . it's a fairly horrific and painful manner to leave this life.

Apparently, it's about to put Baby's boy in the corner for good. Sad, too sad.

SugartitsMcFirecrotch

A few days ago, the Canadian musician Jeff Healey died of cancer; he played Cody in "Roadhouse".
Anyone checked on Sam Elliott lately?

sugaritis

@accomodatingasian:

Wasn't Batboy Weekly World News?

whoneedslight

That's a shame, dude always had a smile on his face.

You'll dance with Jesus my friend!

Tenno

@accomodatingasian: Batboy was actually Weekly World News, which admitted that it completely fabricated its stories. Nat'l Enquirer has a more thorough vetting process, as it has a tendency to get sued. Hence, what it prints is fairly likely to be true.

Dave J.

Oh, come on now! National Enquirer? Seriously?!

Desk_hack

@accomodatingasian: Bat Boy was in the Weekly World News (RIP WWN). I hope it's not true, but if it is, it's very sad.

heidiho

If its true, very sad. Pacreatic cancer is swift.

PandoraSpocks

To Patrick Swayze with love - Julie Newmar

NoGrumpys

K, now the only person in my life I allow to acquire their news from the National Enquirer is my Nana.

SneakingThroughTheAlleyWithLalley

I feel like a young woman on a family vacation who knows she has only a few weeks left with her pert-bunned lover. I'll be damned if we're dancing the pancreatic pachanga. Can't Jerry Orbach give him a shot of something?

*He's like the wind*

NoWireHangers

If I read it in People then I'll believe it - but right now I'm just not going to belive this.

kathotdog

Remember, guys, this info is coming from the same paper that promised us the BATBOY. Hopefully, Swayze and his pancreas are getting along better than reported.

accomodatingasian

I believe it only because surviving pancreatic cancer is exceedingly rare.. Too bad he seems pretty decent, scandal free, no underage lovers, homoerotic porn..

fembot

Dear, dear Patrick...I pray for you as everyone keeps commenting on the painful reality of pancreatic cancer. So should this story be true, I urge you to live by the memorable words of Dalton that you uttered in "Road House"... PAIN DON'T HURT.

Stay strong, Swayze. God bless.

DukeLaCrosse

I hope this isn't true, but it is weird that there has been no word from Swayze's reps since this story broke. Pancreatic cancer is one of the more brutal ones.

I loved him in most everything he did, but have a soft spot for Dirty Dancing and Point Break, and the sketch with Chris Farley remains my favorite SNL skit ever.

karion

So many people here have had their lives touched by this disease. To you I give my heartfelt condolences. And I, too, am holding Patrick Swayze and his family in my heart, hoping for the best.

Sarah Bellum

Aww, I'm all choked up thinking we'll never see him dance again! With any luck he'll have a final few weeks not in a hospital, but surrounded by family, friends and the horses he loves.

And when he's gone, the urban dictionary definition of "Swayze" will be even more poignant.

Hez

I hope he comes back as a Ghost and forces Whoopi Goldberg to speak for him. This is sad.

bitchybitch

I don't believe it and won't believe it until it is reported from a more reputable news agency. My heart is broken!

SanFranBetsu

A bit more info:

FOXNews.com's calls to Swayze's reps were not immediately returned. But a "very good source" reportedly told blogger Perez Hilton that Swayze has seemed fine lately.

"Patrick has been at rehearsals for a new cheerleading movie at Century City studio frequently lately, and he definitely does not look like he has 5 more weeks of life left…i'm not sure of his medical condition(s), but if he is gravely ill, he is hiding it very well," the source said.

This story officially sucks, not just because the news is potentially very tragic, but because the only sources at this point are the Enquirer, FOX News, and Perez Hilton.

Dave J.

Red Dawn still rules my face.. one of the few movies I ALWAYS stop to watch when it's on cable.

rainmkr

How awful to die so young. That skit was the best, too, especially the bouncin' and behavin' blonde mullet.

scroll_lock

@fembot: I think he seems like a decent guy DESPITE the fact he didn't do homoerotic porn.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Mr. Swayze. I've watched _Ghost_ far more times than I'm usually willing to admit in my face-to-face interactions.

Rey

He's one of those guys that was nice to the little people on a set-- always remembered them at the end of a production. Good guy, hope this isn't true.

@Hez: And here I thought swayze was a soft fabric. (I can joke b/c I'm in denial-- this 'news' CANNOT be true).

hack-a-rific

aw man, that sucks.

yourfriendandneighbor

@ hack-a-riffic: I've never heard anyone say anything bad about working with him, either. He's always been willing to make fun of himself. For my money his best role is in Donnie Darko.

Swayze annecdote:
He taught ice skating at the Houston galleria when very young. I know several women (teenagers then) who drove 150 mile round trips to take a lesson from him.

Admore

Way too soon.

raincoaster

Too soon for Ghost jokes?

jordo_83

I'm wondering now, because the Enquirer piece suggests he can't keep solid food down, yet he can fly himself to and from Stanford in a Beechcraft. They're great planes, but they don't fly themselves! That sounds fishy.

Also, Stanford DID cure Steve Jobs of pancreatic cancer.

raincoaster

@accomodatingasian: Hate to break it to you, but Batboy is from the Weekly World News, not the Enquirer.

MercuryPDX

I hope it's not true.

jasonelias

his rep has confirmed it to page 6, and has confirmed that he has not much time left here. this is so sad.

he's always be miss vita boheme to me. :(

Nomi Malone

@Dave J.: So sad that the day after a primary is beset with rumors emanating from reliable sources like the Enquirer, Fox News & Perez Hilton - you hit it right on the head. Rumors or fact, who knows the difference anymore.

Barack Obama only has 5 weeks to live, I hear he caught the cancer from Patrick Swayze at a fundraiser.

Spread it!

Big John

Damn. Page Six (via DListed) has now had a confirmation of the whole thing from Swayze's rep, including the fact that he may only have a few weeks left. Very, very sad.

Hez

Now I'm finally going to have to go to Point Break Live! in tribute. I never imagined attending it was going to have to be a sad occasion.

Guadalahonky

No No No

NotReadyForPrimeTime

Remind me again why we need an effing pancreas. They sound like nothin' but trouble to me. Also, I miss Ed Anger.

Lizawithazee

He was so sweet when he danced with that newlywed on Oprah. What a mensch.

sonjahenie

The Outsiders
Red Dawn
Dirty Dancing
Road House
Next of Kin
Ghost
Point Break
To Wong Foo...
Donnie Darko

There's nobody out there right now quite like the Swayz.

Damn. 55 is too fucking young.

Cacafuego

Per the statement given to TMZ from Swayze's pub:

"Patrick's physician Dr. George Fisher states, '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.' Patrick is continuing his normal schedule during this time, which includes working on upcoming projects.

heidiho

TMZ just confirmed.

cozymoses

@Lizawithazee:

Its a healthy pancreas or multiple daily injections of insulin
or as Wilfred Brimley says: D I A B E T E S

NoGrumpys

@Cacafuego: Sounds it. Let's hope Swayze is more fortunate than your dad. You have my sympathy. I was thinking of my own chemo experience, but it's true that oncology is constantly developing new treatments, and Stanford has to be right at the forefront of that.

raincoaster

@raincoaster:
My dad had stomach & pancreatic cancer, and he couldn't keep food down either--largely because the cancer was basically pushing his guts up his throat.
But he could still drive his truck up until the last couple of weeks, so yeah, Swayze can probably still fly his plane. Soon, though, he'll be plugged into a morphine drip, as well as a fluids IV. Eventually the ability to take any form of nourishment by mouth will disappear. It's a rough, rough way to go.

Cacafuego

How terribly sad. I always remember what a sweet relationship he had with his wife.

And the Christmas song from MST3K.

Sweet Panda Love

@raincoaster: Sadly, there is no "cure" for pancreatic cancer. If the tumor is localized and has not metasticized, surgery is an option. Part of the pancreas is removed, the stomach and intestines are re-routed. It is one of the most severe and complicated surgeries you can undergo. I can't see how Swayze could have had this a few months ago as the recovery is slow and painful. They can also remove the pancreas, but you'll be an insulin dependent diabetic for the rest of your life. Also, if he's going chemo, I think we have our answer. Very sad.

So, smokers, light up and enjoy!

Little Mintz Sunshine

@jupiterspaw: Oh my god. Orry Main. Thank you for that beautiful memory.

3cardkitty

Bill Hicks and now Patrick! Having spent a large portion of my teenage years watching and re-watching The Outsiders and Dirty Dancing I'm gutted to hear about PS. Stay gold, Ponyboy.

Elsie_Tanner

@Little Mintz Sunshine:
I'm betting the stomach disorder Swayze he went in for a few months ago was a supposed ulcer that turned out to be a tumor--same as my dad, who ended up having his stomach & spleen & pancreas removed (he was already a diabetic, so that part wasn't much of an issue), only to die 6 months later. I bet Swayze's docs took out his pancreas and have had him on insulin therapy and thought they got it, just like my dad. For my dad, the inability to keep food down was the sign the cancer was back. He lost 40 lbs in 6 months and couldn't take solids by mouth, or even fluids the last 3 months. Swayze has the benefits of being over 20 years younger, so he might have a little more time.

Cacafuego

@Sweet Panda Love: Open up your heart and let the Patrick Swayze Christmas in...

I'm getting verklempt just thinking about it. So sad.

For the benefit of the young'ins:

+ Watch video

flippin

When can we have a yearly telethon for fucking cancer! You would think with all this DNA and embryonic cell research we could do something about this disease. Wouldn't a cure for cancer be amazing? I have a hate hate relationship with that disease as it has taken many loved ones. I know it's not that simple, but science seems to be doing so much new things all the time. Just a thought.

Superstarsteve