In March 2008, Swayze announced that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The disease eventually took his life 18 months later, in September 2009.
In the United States, the third leading cause of death combined in women and men is pancreatic cancer. Although considered to be rare, pancreatic cancer is aggressive and has a low survival rate.
Learn about Patrick Swayze’s diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and the symptoms and causes of this potentially deadly cancer. This article also explains how pancreatic cancer is diagnosed and treated and the ways to cope if faced with a cancer diagnosis.
What Is Pancreatic Cancer?
Pancreatic cancer begins when malignant (cancer) cells grow in the pancreas and form a tumor. The pancreas is an organ that controls blood sugar.
The pancreatic exocrine cells are responsible for secreting digestive enzymes, and the endocrine cells help produce hormones. Most pancreatic cancers affect the exocrine cells.
Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer
In late 2007, Swayze started to experience symptoms that led him to seek a diagnosis. The symptoms included nausea and vomiting, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, and jaundice—four common symptoms of pancreatic cancer.
Weight Loss and Gastrointestinal Problems
People with pancreatic cancer may have little to no appetite. This is because the tumor triggers the release of inflammatory substances (called cytokines) that alter the perception of hunger in the brain. This can lead to unintended weight loss, commonly experienced in people with advanced pancreatic cancer.
A tumor in the pancreas can also press on the nearby stomach and intestines, leading to indigestion, nausea, and vomiting. These can further contribute to the loss of appetite and weight loss.
Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is a common symptom in people with pancreatic cancer. It often occurs when a tumor presses on the spine, causing pain in the abdomen that radiates into the back. The pain can worsen when lying down.
Jaundice
Jaundice is the yellowing of the eyes and skin. It is caused by the build-up of bilirubin, a yellowish substance produced from the breakdown of red blood cells.
Bilirubin is usually removed from the body through the liver and bile duct. But when pancreatic cancer is advanced, the tumor and inflammation can block the bile duct, accumulating bilirubin in the bloodstream.
Jaundice is often one of the main reasons people with pancreatic cancer seek a diagnosis.
Causes
The cause of pancreatic cancer is unknown, but several risk factors have been identified.
Smoking is one such factor. The chemicals in tobacco smoke can weaken the body’s immune response, including natural killer cells (NKCs) that help fight cancer. Smoking can also damage the genetic material of cells, called DNA, causing them to grow uncontrollably into tumors.
Swayze, a heavy smoker, believed that smoking had something to do with his cancer.
Other risk factors of pancreatic cancer include:
Age: Most people with pancreatic cancer are older than 45. Genetics: A family history of pancreatic cancer or an inherited genetic disorder such as Lynch syndrome increases the risk of pancreatic cancer. Obesity: People who are obese are more likely to develop pancreatic cancer. Chronic pancreatitis: Chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) increases the risk of pancreatic cancer. Chronic pancreatitis is often a result of heavy alcohol use.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing pancreatic cancer can be difficult, especially in the early stages. The pancreas is deep inside the abdomen, making small tumors hard to find on a physical exam and imaging tests.
People with pancreatic cancer often have no symptoms until the disease is advanced. Swayze did not go to the healthcare provider until his symptoms reached a point where he could no longer ignore them.
The diagnosis of pancreatic cancer usually starts with a review of your medical history and your family’s medical history. Then, a physical exam will look for signs of pancreatic cancer like jaundice or other less overt symptoms such as itchy skin or fluid in the abdomen (ascites).
The healthcare provider will then order tests that aid in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. These include blood tests like the CA19-9 that detect blood-related substances linked to pancreatic cancer. There will also be imaging tests like ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look for abnormalities in the pancreas.
Pancreatic cancer is definitively diagnosed with a biopsy. This procedure involves the removal of a sample of the tumor for evaluation in a lab.
Treatment
While pancreatic cancer is challenging to cure, some treatments can alleviate symptoms and improve survival. The treatment may include surgery to remove part or all of the pancreas affected by cancer.
You may also use chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, or a combination of medicines to treat pancreatic cancer, each of which fights the disease differently:
Chemotherapy uses medications that kill fast-replicating cells like cancer. However, it can damage other fast-replicating cells like hair and tissues of the digestive tract. The medicines are given intravenously (into a vein) or by injection. Radiation therapy uses focused beams of radiation to kill cancer cells directly. Immunotherapy is medications that stimulate the immune system to destroy cancer cells. They are given intravenously or by mouth.
Swayze’s cancer treatment included chemotherapy and an experimental drug called vatalanib, which helps block the enzyme that promotes cancer growth. As of 2022, the drug has yet to be approved, and clinical trials are ongoing.
Even though the disease is mostly incurable, pancreatic cancer has the potential to be cured if caught early. The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer caught early (before it spreads) is 43.9%.
If pancreatic cancer is advanced and a person is unlikely to benefit from treatment, your healthcare provider will offer palliative care. Palliative care helps minimize symptoms to remain as comfortable as possible for as long as possible.
Some people may opt solely for palliative care when diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It’s a highly personal choice made with full disclosure of the treatment’s potential benefits and risks. For some, it is more important to maintain the highest possible quality of life rather than undergo treatments that may be toxic and difficult to bear.
Coping
Because pancreatic cancer is associated with a high death rate, many people have trouble with the diagnosis. However, there are ways to emotionally and physically manage the disease regardless of how advanced it is.
Swayze approached his diagnosis positively, eager to go through his treatment, spread awareness, and find comfort in his loved ones.
All people with pancreatic cancer can do the same. In addition to joining a support group, you may want to build a support system of people who can comfort and encourage you during treatment. This includes family, friends, healthcare team, counselors, therapists, and social workers.
Coping with the side effects of treatment can also be challenging. Therefore, it is essential to tell your healthcare provider about any challenges you face during treatment, as there are ways to relieve many of them.
For example, your healthcare provider can prescribe medications to relieve pain, nausea, mouth sores, and anxiety. In addition, healthy lifestyle choices—including getting enough rest, staying as active as possible, and maintaining proper nutrition—can help you better cope with treatment.
Summary
Patrick Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2008 and became a symbol of hope and inspiration for those living with the disease. He also shed light on a type of cancer many people don’t understand. The diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is often made when the disease is advanced. Although several treatment regimens are available for pancreatic cancer, the survival rate is low.
Following Swayze’s example, people with pancreatic cancer are strongly encouraged to build a strong support network, keep healthy and fit, and remain positive.
A Word From Verywell
Patrick Swayze inspired many fans long before he had pancreatic cancer, but his diagnosis and approach to the disease resonated with those affected. The most important decision is to choose the best treatment option for you.
Some people may opt for palliative care when diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It’s a highly personal choice made with full disclosure of the potential benefits and risks. For some, it is more important to maintain the highest possible quality of life rather than undergo treatments that may be toxic and difficult to bear.
Localized: 43. 9%Regional: 14. 7%Distant: 3. 1%
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