Off The Record
Patrick Swayze’s Widow, Lisa, Reveals Actor’s First Subtle Symptoms Of Pancreatic Cancer
Lisa Niemi Swayze, after Patrick Swayze’s death from pancreatic cancer, committed to raising awareness of the disease.
Niemi Swayze has dedicated herself to spreading awareness about pancreatic cancer and keeping her late husband’s legacy alive after he died in 2009.
“I still care and I know how tough Patrick’s and my journey was with this,” she said. “Cancer may have taken him, but it didn’t beat him. And I’m continuing his fight for him.”
After being diagnosed with cancer in 2007, Swayze passed away in 2009.
Niemi Swayze, the actor’s second wife, who remarried 2014, stated that his yellow eyes and stomach issues were the first signs of illness.
“He came to me and he said, ‘Do my eyes look yellow?’” she told TODAY.
Even though he first wanted to wait, Niemi Swayze insisted that they go a doctor the following day because “yellow eyes just doesn’t sound normal.”
“We went to the doctor and the moment he looked at him and saw what was going on, he sent us immediately for a CT scan.”
“Then we had a grueling 24 hours to wait while we got the reports back. It was a really tough time. Your life just turns on a dime,” she recalled.
Swayze’s diagnosis of pancreatic cancer was verified during an endoscopic surgery.
Niemi Swayze said that most doctors gave their patients a death prognosis because pancreatic cancer is so difficult to treat. However, the pair refused to comply with the execution.
“We fought it for as long as his body could. It was a tough journey, but it was worth it. When you love someone and they’re on this Earth with you, every moment is precious. Every bit of fight we did was worth it for that extra time.”
Patrick Swayze passed away on September 14, 2009, 20 months after being diagnosed with cancer.
Since then, Niemi Swayze hasn’t stopped advocating for more understanding of the condition.
Since 2010, she has lobbied for increased funding for research on Capitol Hill and collaborated with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
“Just because Patrick passed on … didn’t mean that fight was over, and I was carrying that on for him,” she said.
Lisa Niemi Swayze’s efforts to raise awareness of this fatal illness are much appreciated. Pancreatic cancer is extremely difficult to treat, so being aware of the disease’s early warning signs is crucial.
According to the Mayo Clinic, these can be some early signs of cancer.
Symptoms
Cancer’s effects on the body and the symptoms it produces are very context dependent.
The following are some general symptoms that cancer patients frequently experience:
- Fatigue
- Under-the-skin lump or thickening that can be felt
- Variations in body mass, whether through loss or gain
- Changes in the appearance of the skin, such as a sudden change in skin color, the appearance of new moles, or the progression of preexisting moles
- Alterations in urination or defecation patterns
- Problems breathing or coughing that won’t go away
- Struggling to swallow
- Hoarseness
- Continual pain or nausea after eating
- Continual, mysterious pain in your muscles or joints
- Fever or night sweats that won’t go away
- Abnormal bruising or bleeding
Is It Time To See A Doctor?
If you’re experiencing persistent problems, it’s best to see a doctor.
Talk to your doctor about your worries if you are concerned about your cancer risk but have no symptoms. Inquire about the tests and procedures that can help you screen for cancer.
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