[h1]Stars support Patrick Swayze over cancer[/h1]

By Bonnie Malkin and agencies
Last Updated: 2:14am GMT 08/03/2008

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Hollywood celebrities have rallied around actor Patrick Swayze, who is battling pancreatic cancer.
Patrick Swayze TV show still on despite cancer
Patrick Swayze has pancreatic cancer
In pictures: Patrick Swayze Hollywood star
Stars have sent messages of support to the 55-year-old, who is reported to be undergoing treatment for the disease.



Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to treat Jennifer Grey, Swayze's co-star in the hit film Dirty Dancing, said: "It is so sad. If I saw him on the streets today, I'd throw my arms around him and love him up."

Whoopi Goldberg, who starred in Ghost alongside Swayze, said: "We want you to feel better and we will talk soon, I hope," before blowing a kiss.

In the UK, Claire Sweeney, the Brookside actress who appeared with Swayze in the London stage production of Guys and Dolls in 2006, said: "Patrick is a very close friend, a kind and generous man and a true professional.

"I feel privileged to have worked with him and honoured to have him and his wife Lisa in my life as friends.
"My thoughts are with them both at this difficult time and I hope with all my heart that he makes a full recovery," she added.
Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to treat.
One of the reasons for the difficulty in treatment is that a sufferer may only experience symptoms very late. It sometimes only diagnosed in the late stages.

Send your message of support to Swayze
As a result, the survival rate is one of the lowest of all cancers and just 4.4 per cent of women and 4.2 per cent of men are still alive five years after the initial diagnosis.
The first signs of the illness vary depending on the size of the tumour and where on the pancreas it is located but often a person may experience pain in their back or lower abdomen.
This many become worse on eating and they may also suffer from nausea, vomiting and weight loss.
As the disease becomes more advanced, a person may get jaundice with their skin and whites of their eyes becoming yellow.
If caught early enough, the tumour can be removed by surgery and a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy can also reduce its size and control the pain for the patient.
Risk factors for pancreatic cancer include smoking, a fatty diet, increased alcohol consumption and diabetes.

At least he's getting the best care possible (because of who he is). Cancer in any form is horrible and no one should go through it. I wish him the best of luck.

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Go Bears!

thats sad, i grew up with dirty dancing and ghost : /

my grandmother had pancreatic cancer removed and was one of the few to survive longer than 5 years. She made it almost 10. But she suffered pancreas attacks for the rest of her life. One finally killed her.

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I have both on DVD I think. He is a very good actor. I am sorry to hear this.

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