Cancer-Stricken Patrick Swayze: "I Still Smoke"

Cancer-Stricken Patrick Swayze: "I Still Smoke"

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

filed under: celebrity logic

He speaks out for the first time since his pancreatic cancer diagnosis.

In the "20/20" interview that airs this evening, actor Patrick Swayze surprisingly tells Barbara Walters that quitting smoking is not his priority right now. Does he think cigarettes are to blame for his cancer? Tune in tonight at 10 PM ET to find out.

The self-proclaimed "cowboy" also addresses the many rumors about his life expectancy. "I'd say five years is pretty wishful thinking ... Two years seems likely if you're going to believe statistics," he says. "I want to last until they find a cure, which means I'd better get a fire under it."

The 56-year-old's battle with cancer began late in 2007. He is married to Lisa Niemi. Our thoughts go out to him in this challenging time.

Surprising Celebrity Siblings

7 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

This is sad…my mom passed away in ‘07 from pancreatic cancer. I wish for his sake he would quit.

- Megan

Posted 01/07/09 05:07 PM

Oh please. My sister has a few weeks left after fighting ovarian cancer for 5 years and she is just now concidering to quit. Tooooo Late. Let him enjoy what he enjoys. Many people with this type of cancer never smoked or drank and it didn’t add to their life time. People that are sick, they need to lead a life without pressures to live up to others judgements. Just let them live as they wish. I am sure he has been pressured to quit and I am positive his doctors told him it wouldn’t make a difference one way or the other if he did quit. I just love this guy to death but wish him peace, love, and a positive attitude in his time. I lost my husband to cancer and he had quit smoking years before he got it.

- greenriverkate

Posted 01/07/09 05:59 PM

Snarf! Snarf! Snarf!

- Sidney Snarf

Posted 01/08/09 12:55 AM

MAY GOD BLESS YOU. I WISH YOU PEACE AND JOY DURING THESE TRYING TIMES. NO ONE LIVES FOREVER. LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST. WILL BE LOOKING FOR YOU IN HEAVEN.

- Anonymous

Posted 01/08/09 01:17 AM

It’s so sad and my heart and prayers goes out to Lisa who will be the one that will have to go on.As far as smoking how many have quit then things happened to their body,many.He’s been in stage 4 awhile now and the doctor feels ones that had gone into stage 4 died already so maybe his smoking is helping him.People die with worrying.He should do what he wants,period.

- Jafreelance

Posted 01/08/09 10:11 AM

If he already has cancer, why quit. I know its bad to say, but its true. my grandpa died of cancer, but he quit smoking long before he found out he had it. So, even if you quit, your still going to have it.

- Felecia

Posted 01/08/09 12:46 PM

Everyone has cancer , it’s a matter of your immune system being able to control it or not. People are predisposed genetically , either you are going to get it or not. Sure you can live healthy and you probably will be able to hold it off longer , maybe until something ELSE kills ya . What they need to do is develop genetic testing in childhood so people can know what they are working with and act accordingly . I feel very sad for him though , Pancreatic cancer is amost always a death sentence. Miracles do happen , and i think that’s what is keeping him going.

- Jami

Posted 01/08/09 03:50 PM