Actor Patrick Swayze, 56, has revealed that he has pneumonia and is currently in the hospital. He has struggled with health issues since discovering that he had pancreatic cancer in early 2008.
Swayze, famous for his leading roles in films like “Dirty Dancing”, “Ghost”, and “Point Break”, recently completed the first season of A&E’s television series “The Beast”, set to premiere on January 15. An executive of A&E, Robert DiBitetto, announced Swayze’s hospitalization at a meeting of the Television Critics Association. Swayze was scheduled to discuss “The Beast” at the meeting in Los Angeles on Friday.
DiBitetto told the participants of the meeting that Swayze apologized for not being able to attend. After beginning a new course of chemotherapy for treating his cancer, Swayze fell ill with pneumonia and admitted himself into the hospital for further observation. Pneumonia and other illnesses are common side effects of chemotherapy treatment. According to DiBitetto, Swayze was eager to resume his promotion of “The Beast”.
On January 7, ABC aired a Barbara Walters interview with Swayze and his wife of 33 years, Lisa Niemi. Addressing the wide public speculation about the extent of his illness, Swayze discussed his diagnosis of Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, a deadly disease that has a survival rate of less than five percent. Despite the grim statistics, Swayze remains hopeful about his prospects. He told Walters that his wish was to survive until a cure for pancreatic cancer was found, and his dreams of the future motivate him to fight against his illness.
Swayze and his wife have received letters from thousands of well-wishers around the world.
“GOD BLESS YOU PATRICK”