Patrick Swayze ‘Responding well to treatment’

Written by Vince Pettit | Wednesday, March 5, 2008 | Comment on this article | + Share

Reports that Patrick Swayze has been told he may have weeks to live have been denied by his agent.

The Dirty Dancing star, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late January has been undergoing treatment for the tumor, and according to earlier reports, has weeks to live. Triggered by an article on the National Enquirer website, the worlds media picked up the story quickly to report the ill-health of Swayze.

But despite these earlier reports a statement from his agent denied the severity of this: “Patrick Swayze has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is currently undergoing treatment.”

“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. The outpouring of support and concern he has already received from the public is deeply appreciated by Patrick and his family.”

Swayze, 55, is best known for his role as dance instructor Johnny Castle opposite Jennifer Grey’s character, infatuated teenager Frances “Baby” Houseman, in the 1987 movie musical Dirty Dancing.

Swayze performed the song She’s Like the Wind for the movie’s soundtrack and his signature line, Nobody puts Baby in the corner, has become a pop culture staple