Patrick Swayze has Pancreatic Cancer** UPDATE** PS has passed away RIP

[concernedperson]

the Whipple procedure? they squeezed him? i'm confused....

Very complex surgery that helps to a degree.

http://www.georgetownuniversityhospital.org/body.cfm?id=555759&gclid=CLOx8fS-lZICFSMEkgodoALs6A

 

[Taximom]

GOOD, than why should ANY of us judge him?

I hope you don't think I was judging him. My response was more or less: why possibly create another problem by smoking? Now, if there's no return at this point, heck go for it and break all the rules. But if there's a chance you are recovering, why risk getting another type of cancer? That's all I feel.

I know quitting is very hard though, and a lot of people will continue unhealthy habits even if quitting that habit would help.

 

[kato]

Sadly, it probably doesn't matter.

I'm sorry to say I feel the same. If I had pancreatic cancer I'd be puffing away spending my last days doing things I enjoy.

 

[White Rain]

I hope you don't think I was judging him. My response was more or less: why possibly create another problem by smoking? Now, if there's no return at this point, heck go for it and break all the rules. But if there's a chance you are recovering, why risk getting another type of cancer? That's all I feel.

I know quitting is very hard though, and a lot of people will continue unhealthy habits even if quitting that habit would help.

No, no I don't...just speaking in general! I'm not a smoker thank God!

 

[ember]

Though they think that smoking alone does not cause pancreatic cancer, it is a risk factor and everyone knows that smoking causes damage to all internal organs....that being said...when my father was dying of pancreatic cancer at 38 he still wanted to smoke. The doctors didn't discourage him because what was the use? He was diagnosed in the beginning of April and died the end of May. Pancreatic cancer spreads like wild fire and the more you have the cancer patient open, the more it spreads. My dad had just gotten remarried the August before he died. He was healthy and happy then. 9 months later, he was gone. It wasn't like smoking mattered at the end...just whatever made him happy.
I can remember him being in the hospital bed and being so out of it from being on morphine. He didn't remember names of some people that visited, but every half hour, like clockwork, he put his oxygen tube between his fingers, as if to hold a cigarette, and "smoked" the tube. He didn't even know the difference at that point. That is how powerful the smoking addicition is. At 16 yo, that made quite an impression on me.


My favorite line from Ghost (which I saw right after my dad died) was the line at the end when he says the love stays with you. Funny how Patrick's words in that movie comforted me when I had just delt with what he is dealing with now. Life is so ironic at times.

Many well wishes to Patrick. I sure hope he beats this.

 

[believe09]

I thought pancreatic cancer was primarily genetic? My SIL's mom had the whipple procedure-she passed the week of Valentine's this year...and a hard drinking, smoking woman she was, God love her. They found it late, late-they thought they were opening her up for gallstones and found a huge tumor emeshed in everything...tough lady hung on for about 6 months, and they had given her far less.

The problem for her was that the surgery seeded her entire abdomen with cancer cells, and that was that for her...It was the same for my Dad when he had cancer-surgery seeded his lungs and the cancer ripped through him. I was listening to NPR last month and there are a number of studies being done about surgery triggering the disease to become more aggressive because of the physical "attack' on the tumor.....

 

[philamena]

believe,
Sorry for your loss.

 

[believe09]

believe,
Sorry for your loss.

Thank you-you are kind...

 

[JDB]

My dad kept smoking until the day he died, and drinking nearly as long. At some point, it became useless to worry about the effect it was having, so long as he was comfortable.

My best man at my wedding Had Liver cancer.Actually tried to quit smoking and drinking. Once after all the Chemo and rad was done. DRS told him it did no good. He went back to smoking drinking and died happy. At that point I see no reason to quit doing what yu have been doing for years.:crazy:

 

[Autumn2004]

For those wanting to send Patrick a card or note- I found this off another message board

This address is from the Official Patrick Swayze International Website
Patrick's Publicist is accepting cards and notes for Patrick at this address
WKT Public Relations
335 North Maple Drive
Suite 351
Beverly Hills, CA 90210 USA

 

[ember]

I thought pancreatic cancer was primarily genetic?

That's what they say...but who knows!

In my dad's case, it is suspected that his pancreatic cancer was caused by the treatment that they gave him to counter act his agent orange exposure in Vietnam. His smoking didn't help matters either.
After they had already treated all of those soldiers, later studies on the treatment they received showed that that treatment contributed majorly to pancreatic cancer in labratory mice.

There was no history of cancer in my family before that.
We are registered to receive money from the government should they ever admit to that....however, I won't be holding my breath for a check!

I'm sorry for your loss, believe09...I know your pain.

Thanks Autumn2004, for the address...and good to see you back!

 

[eve]

That's what they say...but who knows!

In my dad's case, it is suspected that his pancreatic cancer was caused by the treatment that they gave him to counter act his agent orange exposure in Vietnam. His smoking didn't help matters either.
After they had already treated all of those soldiers, later studies on the treatment they received showed that that treatment contributed majorly to pancreatic cancer in labratory mice.

There was no history of cancer in my family before that.
We are registered to receive money from the government should they ever admit to that....however, I won't be holding my breath for a check!

I'm sorry for your loss, believe09...I know your pain.

Thanks Autumn2004, for the address...and good to see you back!

My FIL, who died of PC, had type 2 diabetes for years, which he kind of ignored. The Drs. thought that may have triggered it or at least contributed to it. I hope my hubby doesn't inherit it - it seems like such a hopeless disease. I hate to say that, but it does. With cancer, you hear of health-obsessed people being stricken, people with no family history, etc. Do we ever really know why?

Eve

 

[MistyM]

I thought pancreatic cancer was primarily genetic? My SIL's mom had the whipple procedure-she passed the week of Valentine's this year...and a hard drinking, smoking woman she was, God love her. They found it late, late-they thought they were opening her up for gallstones and found a huge tumor emeshed in everything...tough lady hung on for about 6 months, and they had given her far less.

The problem for her was that the surgery seeded her entire abdomen with cancer cells, and that was that for her...It was the same for my Dad when he had cancer-surgery seeded his lungs and the cancer ripped through him. I was listening to NPR last month and there are a number of studies being done about surgery triggering the disease to become more aggressive because of the physical "attack' on the tumor.....

i remember when i was really young my 38 year old great uncle had a tumor and they tried to remove it and then after the surgery what ever they couldn't get metastasized and he died. my family were talking about how once it hit air or something it spread, and i've always believed that since then. so i agree with your statement.

 

[MistyM]

My FIL, who died of PC, had type 2 diabetes for years, which he kind of ignored. The Drs. thought that may have triggered it or at least contributed to it. I hope my hubby doesn't inherit it - it seems like such a hopeless disease. I hate to say that, but it does. With cancer, you hear of health-obsessed people being stricken, people with no family history, etc. Do we ever really know why?

Eve

i know, i always read stories in reader's digest about these vegan marathon running women getting breast cancer. you would think they would be so healthy and they end up with it. makes you wonder if no matter how good you take care of yourself it's just in the environment (pollution, chemicals in water etc)

 

[ember]

i know, i always read stories in reader's digest about these vegan marathon running women getting breast cancer. you would think they would be so healthy and they end up with it. makes you wonder if no matter how good you take care of yourself it's just in the environment (pollution, chemicals in water etc)

Exactly why we should all live life while we're here....cause we're all gonna die anyway...healthy or not!
Never heard anyone say about a person lying in a casket "That's the healthiest looking dead person I've ever seen"

So live, have fun and do what makes you happy....but maybe be at least a little good to our bodies so we don't get to the end any quicker than we have to! I love living but it seems like we're damned if we do and damned if we don't! We are getting toxins from all angles and most of the time don't even know it.

 

[eve]

Exactly why we should all live life while we're here....cause we're all gonna die anyway...healthy or not!
Never heard anyone say about a person lying in a casket "That's the healthiest looking dead person I've ever seen"

So live, have fun and do what makes you happy....but maybe be at least a little good to our bodies so we don't get to the end any quicker than we have to! I love living but it seems like we're damned if we do and damned if we don't! We are getting toxins from all angles and most of the time don't even know it.

I agree and I was recently talking to my 76 year old parents about this and they keep saying their "health nut" friends are the ones who are gone.

Eve

 

[indallas2]

i remember when i was really young my 38 year old great uncle had a tumor and they tried to remove it and then after the surgery what ever they couldn't get metastasized and he died. my family were talking about how once it hit air or something it spread, and i've always believed that since then. so i agree with your statement.

Growing up my Mom used to say the same thing about cancer - once they open you up and the air hits it your a goner - I always thought that was an old wive's tale.

 

[nanandjim]

Growing up my Mom used to say the same thing about cancer - once they open you up and the air hits it your a goner - I always thought that was an old wive's tale.

I found this information at the following link: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_1_2X_Surgery.asp#C8


Does Surgery Cause Cancer to Spread?

In nearly all situations, surgery does not cause cancer to spread, but there are some important exceptions. Doctors who are experienced in taking biopsies of cancers and treating them with surgery are very careful to avoid these situations.

The chances of a needle biopsy causing a cancer to spread are extremely low. In the past, larger needles were used for biopsies, and the chance of spread was higher.

Most types of cancers can be safely sampled by an incisional biopsy, but there are a few exceptions, such as certain tumors in the eyes or in the testicles. For these types of cancer, doctors may treat without a biopsy or may recommend removing the entire tumor if it is likely to be cancerous. In some cases a needle biopsy can be safely used and if the tumor is found to be cancer it can be removed by surgery.

One common myth about cancer is that it will spread if it is exposed to air during surgery. Some people may believe this because they often feel worse after the operation than they did before. It is normal to feel this way when beginning to recover from any surgery. Cancer does not spread because it has been exposed to air. If you delay or refuse surgery because of this myth, then you may be harming yourself by passing up effective treatment.

The best chance of a cure from most types of cancer is to remove all of the cancer as soon as possible after diagnosis. If you have a solid tumor, sometimes surgery alone will provide a cure, but often chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or biologic therapy is also needed. Your health care team will discuss your best treatment options with you.

If you have any concerns about surgery and cancer spread, discuss this issue with the people who know your situation best--your surgeon and other members of your cancer care team.

 

[MistyM]

Exactly why we should all live life while we're here....cause we're all gonna die anyway...healthy or not!
Never heard anyone say about a person lying in a casket "That's the healthiest looking dead person I've ever seen"

So live, have fun and do what makes you happy....but maybe be at least a little good to our bodies so we don't get to the end any quicker than we have to! I love living but it seems like we're damned if we do and damned if we don't! We are getting toxins from all angles and most of the time don't even know it.

i guess the main reason why we should take care of ourselves is so that we have the energy and endurance to enjoy life the best we can.

for example, if i eat alot of greasy sugary tasty food and gain alot of weight and get depressed cuz i can't get my butt out of my computer chair, i probably wont be as happy as if i had perhaps ate a few more grapefruit, cut down on the soft drinks, and enjoyed that exciting mountain climb.

although reading websleuths is probably just as fun. so maybe one more bon bon for me... heh heh...

:dance:

seriously though. i really don't know how they can make that big blanket statement about 'air hitting the cancer' and be so sure about it. if you look back in the past, there are so many things that the powers that be assured us were okay. like lobotomies and other ingenious ideas. so who knows that twenty years down the road they won't say.... you know... that cancer/air thing... well... maybe we were wrong.

and eating vegetables was all just wrong too. eat more twinkies!

 

[MistyM]

omg i totally forgot this was a patrick swayze commemoration thread.

that's a bummer. he was cool. i wish him the best. and surround him in white light.

peace in these hard times.