Dirty Diseases…
In a bit of shocking news from Hollywood, I discovered today that actor Patrick Swayze – best known for his role as Johnny Castle in the 1987 smash-hit movie, “Dirty Dancing,” and for coining the phrase “no one puts Baby in a corner,” – has pancreatic cancer and is undergoing treatments.
While his doctors are likely downplaying the seriousness of his cancer, I know from personal experience how deadly pancreatic cancer is. It is the worst of all forms of cancer because it is virtually impossible to diagnose until it has already spread to other organs in the body. Last year, I lost a friend to pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed about this time last year and was gone by June – that’s how quickly it took his life.
While I certainly hope that Patrick’s physicians are able to treat him and keep him comfortable in the weeks and months ahead, it is not likely that he will “bounce back” from this. Like it or not, pancreatic cancer is a death sentence, usually with a very minimal length of life expectancy. In the best of cases, people can live as long as five additional years. More often, however, several months to a year or two is more realistic.
This just reminded me again of how much I hate cancer and other diseases that exist over which we have no control. None of us is immune to anything, however immortal or indestructible we think we are. I fell in love with Patrick Swayze at the tender age of 16 the first time I saw “Dirty Dancing.” I was in high school and remember thinking he was about the most beautiful guy I had ever laid eyes on. I wanted to be Jennifer Gray so bad back then!!
But as much as I loved “Dirty Dancing,” it was movies that came later that made me love Patrick even more – movies like “Ghost” and “To Wong Foo: Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar.” He has been a very versatile actor, willing to take on a variety of roles and characters. While his acting days are likely over now, he will leave behind a legacy of great films and movie memories. I think I will always appreciate Patrick’s openness to doing the movie “To Wong Foo.” This movie took three of the most “manly” men and turned them into drag queens. It was priceless and I never get tired of watching that movie.
Thank you, Patrick, for the memories. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you battle this horrifying disease. We know you’re strong and if anybody can fight this for an extended period of time, it’s you.
