Caffeinated Clint – “Swayze has the Cancer!”

Swayze Has the Cancer!

Man, I’m really sad right now – and yet I hate saying that because it feels like you’ve just heard that someone has passed or you’re standing on a grassy field about to read a eulogy. Neither of which is the case.

Patrick Swayze, one of my favorite actors, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He HASN’T got a few weeks to live – like one of the crumby tabloids reported – but it’s still VERY serious.

“Actor Patrick Swayze has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is currently undergoing treatment,” Annett Wolf, Swayze’s publicist, said in a statement.

“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’.

The statement continued: “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.”

(The fuckin’ National Enquirer said that Swayze had only 5 weeks to live – which was totally false. Jerks!).

For those who don’t know their cancers, Pancreatic cancer is “Pancreatic cancer is one of the most serious of cancers. It develops when cancerous cells form in the tissues of your pancreas — a large organ that lies horizontally behind the lower part of your stomach. Your pancreas secretes enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that help regulate the metabolism of carbohydrates.

Pancreatic cancer spreads rapidly and is seldom detected in its early stages, which is a major reason why it’s a leading cause of cancer death. Signs and symptoms may not appear until the disease is quite advanced. By that time, the cancer is likely to have spread to other parts of the body and surgical removal is no longer possible.

For years, little was known about pancreatic cancer. But researchers are beginning to understand the genetic basis of the disease — knowledge that may eventually lead to new and better treatments. Just as important, you may be able to reduce your risk of pancreatic cancer with some lifestyle changes.”.

He’s been a heartthrob, a joke, an icon and unemployable all in the space of a decade – and yet Patrick Swayze has continued to give it his best (whether he knows he’s fronting crap or not). Whether it’s as the charismatic Johnny in “Dirty Dancing”, the ghostly Sam in “Ghost”, the kick-ass Dalton in “Road House” or the immoral Bodhi in 1991’s “Point Break”, Swayze’s given us more good times than a poker machine. Sure he’s had his misses – “Father Hood”, “City of Joy”, “Dirty Dancing : Havana Nights” – but the good definitely outweighs the bad.

A few years back the dance-trained actor proved he’s more than a beefy chest and pair of dancing shoes by taking on an against-type role in the indy hit “Donnie Darko”, and though the role didn’t lead to the “bigger and better” many expected it would, it assured Hollywood that Patrick still had it. One of his most recent roles, and one in which he absolutely terrific, was playing the womanizing ‘Lance’ in the British comedy “Keeping Mum” opposite Rowan Atkinson and Kristin Scott-Thomas. I’ve personally stuck with the guy through his ups and downs – I’ve always thought he was fuckin’ terrific.

They say he’s not versatile – but check out his wide-array of parts! There’s no way you can say Sam Wheat and James Dalton are the same person. If you still think that way, go hump an X-box!

Personal story: A month or so ago our production company offered Patrick a terrific role in a film we’re in pre-production on. There seemed to be interest. Then, there wasn’t. It seems Swayze’s been battling with the disease for a while now and it’s affecting his work to the degree that he doesn’t know how much he can commit to at the moment. The part we offered him was tailor-made for Patrick, so it’s a real pity that he won’t be playing it, but we’ll endeavour to find someone just as good to do it justice. I won’t be shy in letting the other actor know who we were originally talking to for the part, either – if even so they can attempt to channel their inner-Swayze.

Though Swayze is committed to starring in the films and series’ he’s been working on up till now – including “Power Blue”, and the TV series “The Beast” – I think it’s pretty safe to say that his involvement in films like “Point Break 2”, which was set to go into production mid-year, is up in the air at the moment.

I just want to wish Swayze and family the best. I’ll light a candle for you buddy….

Lets pray for a speedy recovery, all.

Point Break

Roadhouse

Ghost

Dirty Dancing

Donnie Darko

Red Dawn

AND DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THAT THE BOY CAN SING, TOO?!!