Patrick Swayze’s Wife Opens Up About the Late Actor’s Fear & Struggle to Remain Positive After Cancer Diagnosis

“I didn’t know much about pancreatic cancer, but he did, and from what he knew, anytime you heard someone had pancreatic cancer, it was like, ‘Well, he’s out of here,’” Lisa Niemi Swayze told Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes on their podcast.

Lisa Swayze stood by her late husband’s side through the entirety of his cancer journey.

Swayze is perhaps best remembered as Johnny in 1987’s Dirty Dancing, which he starred in alongside Jennifer Grey. To succeed in the role, Swayze tapped into his background as a trained ballet dancer to captivate the audience when he uttered that famous line: “Nobody puts Baby in the corner,” and whisked Grey away.

His wife said his cancer diagnosis was terrifying — and they tried to be realistic about it.

“Everything shifted. We always called ourselves optimistic realists because we knew in all likelihood how this was gonna turn out, but we held out that he would be the one to make it through it because miracles do happen. We kept so positive about everything, but I tell you what, it was like living in a complete nightmare 24/7,” Lisa explained.

Often, pancreatic cancer diagnoses come about after the cancer has reached advanced stages — when it becomes harder to treat. The reason the cancer goes undetected when it first develops is that it doesn’t present noticeable symptoms until the cancer has spread or metastasized (become advanced).

“Sure enough, the doctor said you can go ahead and treat it and be as aggressive as you want, but do think about getting your affairs in order sooner rather than later. That’s a tough thing to hear,” Lisa said.

Despite the odds, Lisa said they were determined to help him live as long and comfortably as possible. She noted that her sister-in-law was an oncologist and suggested he try a clinical trial.

Clinical trials help doctors better understand cancer and discover more effective treatment methods. They also allow patients to try a treatment before it’s approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which can be life-changing. Despite clinical trials’ great benefits, they also come with risks (like potential side effects that are not fully understood yet).

Swayze’s Brave Battle

Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March 2008.

Pancreatic cancer forms in the pancreas. It is more challenging to treat because symptoms usually don’t present themselves until the cancer has spread or metastasized. Symptoms may include weight gain, back pain, and jaundice.

Early-stage pancreatic cancer tumors don’t appear on imaging scans, and people typically don’t experience symptoms until the disease has progressed. The pancreas’ location in the abdomen makes it harder to find tumors.

Before he passed, Swayze shared that he started experiencing symptoms of pancreatic cancer in December 2007 when he dealt with digestive issues. Again, pancreatic cancer often presents subtle symptoms early on, making it hard to notice.

In his memoir, he noted that he thought he was feeling bloated and that the feeling would eventually subside.

WATCH: Pancreatic cancer and early detection.

“I had been having some digestive trouble,” he wrote. “It was mostly acid reflux and a kind of bloated feeling for a few weeks. I’ve had a sensitive stomach my whole life, so I hadn’t thought much of it, but lately, I just couldn’t shake the constant discomfort.”

He was officially diagnosed a few months later. After an 18-month-long cancer battle, he died from the disease.

Tips to Cope with an Unexpected Diagnosis

Facing a cancer diagnosis is often a terrifying experience, but it’s important to know that you are not alone — and there are many ways to seek support. Experts recommend trying the following:

• Let your family and close friends know and let them help. So many cancer survivors tell us they want and need support but are often too preoccupied to make specific requests. Urge those close to you to jump in with whatever practical help they can offer.
• Keep a journal. It can be highly cathartic to let those feelings loose on paper. Grab a pen and a lovely journal and chronicle your thoughts throughout the day.
• Join a cancer support group. Groups in nearly every community offer opportunities to connect with others going through a similar journey. You’ll learn constructive insight from others who can tell you what to expect and how to stay strong on tough days.
• Consider seeing a therapist. Ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist so you can discuss your fears and concerns in a safe space. Often, vocalizing your thoughts and feelings rather than internalizing them can provide relief.

Understanding Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer begins in the pancreas and is known as the “silent disease.”

Symptoms of the disease rarely show up until it has advanced and metastasized (spread) to other parts of the body.

Although pancreatic cancer survival rates have been improving, it’s still considered to be largely incurable. An exception to this is if the tumor is still small enough and localized enough to be operated on.

The National Cancer Institute identifies pancreatic cancer symptoms to include:

• Dark urine
• Pain in the abdomen
• Unexplained weight loss
• Light-colored stools
• Loss of appetite and fatigue

Treatment options for pancreatic cancer may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.

WATCH: Dr. Allyson Ocean explains why pancreatic cancer is so hard to treat

Immunotherapy Offers Hope

Immunotherapy is the process of activating a patient’s own immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. These treatment options could be advantageous for patients who manage to catch pancreatic cancer in its early stages. A study funded by the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy combined two immunotherapy drugs with chemotherapy and found that some patients experienced either a shrinking of tumors or a slowing of the progression of tumors.

“Until now, immunotherapy hasn’t had a big role,” Dr. Allyson Ocean, Medical Oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian, previously told SurvivorNet. “Now, this study combines two immunotherapy drugs with frontline standard chemotherapy, and we’re seeing response rates significantly better than what was published with other chemotherapies alone.”

Immunotherapy does not work for all patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Still, the advances presented in this study and others in recent years give those facing this disease much hope.

Questions for Your Doctor

If you are facing a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, you may have questions but are unsure how to get the answers you need. SurvivorNet suggests asking your doctor the following to kickstart your journey to more solid answers.

• What type of pancreatic cancer do I have?
• Has my cancer spread beyond my pancreas? If so, where has it spread, and what is the stage of the disease?
• What is my prognosis?
• What are my treatment options?
• What side effects should I expect after undergoing treatment?
• Will insurance cover my recommended treatment?

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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