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Patrick Swayze Not Dead from Pancreatic Cancer, Rep Says

by Jordan Yerman | May 19, 2009 at 07:54 am

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Patrick Swayze is rumored to have died today after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Last month, doctors had confirmed that the cancer had spread to Swayze's liver. A representative for the actor has asserted that Swayze is not dead.

Rumours this afternoon swept the internet that Dirty Dancing star Patrick Swayze had lost his battle with pancreatic cancer and died at the age of 56 - but have been swiftly denied by his rep.

This is to confirm that Patrick Swayze did not pass away this morning contrary to severely reckless reports stemming from a radio station in Jacksonville, Florida," says Annett Wolf. "Patrick Swayze is alive, well and is enjoying his life and he continues to respond to treatment.""]"This is to confirm that Patrick Swayze did not pass away this morning contrary to severely reckless reports stemming from a radio station in Jacksonville, Florida," says Annett Wolf. "Patrick Swayze is alive, well and is enjoying his life and he continues to respond to treatment."

The iconic actor's health has been waning for some time, and the tabloids have been circling like sharks. Contributors have been playing tug-o-war with an obituary on Swayze's Wikipedia page: it may be visible depending on when you click.

The story has a personal resonance for me, since my grandfather died of pancreatic cancer: it's a horrible way to go, and was painful to watch. The sheer number of times I got The Call and grabbed my car keys, only to then hear, no, he's still here... for us this is just a news story, but to Swayze's family (and who knows how many other families), this is the worst week ever.

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Samir Joshi

at 08:03 on May 19th, 2009

May his soul RIP

Mary Richard

at 11:00 on May 19th, 2009

I'm so glad to hear that!

I guess we're learning how rumors can spread like wildfire on the internet, whether they're true or not. This past weekend, Twitter was abuzz about the death of Al Green - FALSE - he's still kicking!

mudricky

at 14:57 on May 19th, 2009

This sort of thing happens a lot on Twitter. It's going to get someone into trouble one day.

Glad to hear he hasn't passed away, I'd hate to pick up the paper one morning, or flick on the news to see that I'm dead.

hidflect

at 17:23 on May 19th, 2009

Especially if it was true!

Aliens (not verified)

at 22:48 on May 19th, 2009

Thanks to God! I adore this actor and I am glad he's still fighting the cancer

dysamoria

at 01:15 on May 20th, 2009

... and my respect for you just climbed more... The fact that you wrote this, from the angle you wrote it (criticizing the media for the way it's playing with Swayze's health status to sell commercials and whatnot)... Excellent.

The irony is that i was looking for images to add to my first sociopathy story, i found a funny and quick Photoshop job done for the "sociopathy" tag... and there you were on the side bar, with this story about Swayze.

Sociopathic, those sharks (and vultures).

So it all comes full circle: you're making an excellent example of why sociopathic behavior HURTS people, because you've lived through suffering that you recognize in others (you have and demonstrate empathy)... and you call out foul when others do it.

Good work, Jordan.

The vulture/shark media (not "ALL THE media") need to learn some human respect. Hell, maybe we're being too cruel to predator animals by using their names in reference to these human beings who CAN and SHOULD know and do differently/better. Humans make choices. It's what separates us from "lowly animals" (or it should/would). i have four cats and am friends with those who have cats; i know the critters are predators and they, by nature, do not comprehend empathy like humans can ("can," not "do"), so i make excuses for the behavior i wish they didn't demonstrate.

What's humanity's excuse? If humanity admitted to being just another predatorial mammal, instead of being all superior, then i guess no excuse is needed. But it does declare itself to be superior.

At least some of them demonstrate superior empathy (thank you).

(has "The Franklin Mint" issues commemorative plates of Patrick Swayze yet? - i hate those people... the A&E "Biography" people can be similarly horrific)

dysamoria

at 01:26 on May 20th, 2009

there's a great image that might not specifically enhance this story (so i didn't add it), but points a nasty finger at some of the more questionable media... http://my.nowpublic.com/fox_news_billboard

jfsartes

at 06:49 on May 27th, 2009

Great photo!

jfsartes has contributed a photo to this story.

tansel erdem (not verified)

at 04:02 on June 16th, 2009

He will be never been forgatten

onlynphilly (not verified)

at 05:49 on June 26th, 2009

I am very sorry that Patrick and his family had to hear that. I too have Pancreatic Cancer - stage IV and I just turned 50 years old. This is a horrible thing to have to wake up to in the morning. Here we are trying to make it the best way we can, trying to survive and live a life as normal as possible and praying everyday that some cure will pop up and save us all, but in the meantime, we try to stay focused on living for today and trying to be happy and things like this just make us feel worse. These people need to have a heart and understand that if this were a realtive of theirs, they would be very upset that this type of stuff was going on in the public. It is in very poor taste!