The sad news came of Patrick Swayze’s diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. It’s a deadly cancer, with no way to detect it early, and little chance of survival past a few weeks or months.
Several people have asked me if pancreatic cancer is the same cancer that afflicts Randy Pausch. You may remember Dr. Pausch as the Carnegie Mellon professor who gave his lecture of a lifetime in Fall 2007.
Dr. Pausch has done a great job of battling his cancer. He was given only a few weeks to settle his affairs, yet he is still fighting strong, six months later.
A close friend, Paul, succumbed to pancreatic cancer last year. He lasted only three weeks past his diagnosis — breaking many hearts among those of us who knew him.
So for those of you who are so inclined, please say your prayers for both Dr. Pausch and Mr. Swayze and their families. Your prayers have a far better influence on pancreatic cancer than most therapies can have.
(Photo Credit: Alan Light through Flickr)
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I really enjoy your site, it is a plethora of information. Today it is featured on Battling For Health: Cancer
http://cancer.battlingforhealth.com/2008/03/friday-follow-up/#more-316
Many thanks!
The news of Patrick’s cancer is such a heart breaking thing. I keep both he and his family in my prayers. Such a horrible disease!
Hello,
I wanted to tell you that my grandmother was the oldest living survivor of pancreatic cancer until she died in a car accident January of this year (’08). The Mayo Clinic helped her tremendously. She was truely a miracle, and I believe that that miracle can exist for others.
MY SON RANDY PENNER WAS DIOGNOSED WITH STAGE 3 INVASIVE PANCREATIC CANCER. HE HAD THE WHIPPLE PROCEDURE DONE. I HAVE BEEN TRYING SO HARD TO FIND AN ADVOCATE TO HELP US THRU THIS WITH NO LUCK. RANDY IS ONLY 30 YEARS OLD. IF THIER IS ANYONE THAT CAN HELP US FIND AN ADVOCATE PLEASE LEAVE THE INFORMATION HERE FOR US. PLEASE!!
I pray that your son Randy is doing well, my diagnosis of pancreatic cancer was in December of 2005. I too had the whipple procedure and thanks to GOD I’m still doing well.