Stubble and Weight Gain Give Swayze a Healthy Glow

By PopEater Staff Posted Aug 7th 2009 11:00AM

Having battled pancreatic cancer and incessant rumors that he was close to death since early last year, Patrick Swayze has emerged with new hair growth, a fuller face, and the appearance of greatly improved health. The 56-year-old star 'Dirty Dancing' star was photographed last week in Los Angeles, looking better and stronger than he has in months.

Pictures in April showed the actor looking painfully thin, with noticeable hair loss due to his cancer treatments. The new photographs show that Swayze has grown a beard and sideburns, as well as packed on some flattering pounds. The long-time smoker was also spotted with a cigarette in hand.

There are various reasons for Swayze's improved health and outlook. A report in the Daily Mail suggest that the actor may have received a new, advanced type of radiotherapy that shoots beams of radiation at hard-to-reach tumors.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=685976&pid=685975&uts=1249658926

http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/movies/?s_channel=us.moviespop&s_account=aolnews,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

Swayze's Cancer Battle

New pictures of Patrick Swayze confirm his rep's reports that the star is "doing very well." The rep adds that Swayze "has even gained a little weight."

Fame Pictures

Swayzes Cancer Battle

With his health and fight against pancreatic cancer still looming, Patrick Swayze's show 'The Beast' has been canceled after one season on the air. Swayze's been dealing with bigger issues of late, including having to deny death reports in mid-May.

Bryan Bedder, Getty Images

Swayze's battle with pancreatic cancer has been a public one at times. He's seen here in January of 2009 giving his first television interview since being diagnosed. Swayze told Barbara Walters that "You spend so much time chasing staying alive, you won't live."

Ron Tom, ABC

Swayze opened up about his cancer fight to PEOPLE in a March 2008 cover story to give his own take on his health.

PEOPLE

For Swayze, family is key during these tough times. His wife Lisa "has been a rock. She's there to support him through all of this," according to Swayze's sister. Lisa and Patrick are seen here in London on Nov. 28, 2005.

Lefteris Pitarakis, AP

Patrick and Lisa, here after the unveiling of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles on Aug. 18 , 1997, met at his mother's dance studio when he was 19 and she was 15.

Susan Sterner, AP

Lisa, left, and Patrick married in 1975. Facing Patrick's diagnosis, Lisa is taking charge of his fight and recovery, including flying him to chemotherapy, making special high-fat meals, and keeping track of his medication. Many of Swayze's friends and costars have also given the actor support.

Rebecca Sapp, WireImage.com

"He's a Texan -- very strong and very determined. And he has a wife who adores him at his side. Theirs is a great, enduring love. It's inspiring to all of us," Natasha Richardson, who co-starred with Swayze in 'Waking Up in Reno,' said.

Peter Kramer, AP

Liam Neeson recalled an incident when he and Swayze were on Broadway together in 'Next of Kin'. "A few times he and Lisa would be chatting about his early Broadway days when he was a dancer, and he'd suddenly start dancing -- it was just like a piece of poetry. They'd just get up, and the two of them would dance. It was very beautiful, very moving."

Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images

"Like any great marriage, they seem to move together as one person. They're like a single organism. She is a strong, strong woman -- very funny, very kind, very smart. They love each other and it's apparent. The partnership is for life," 'Road House' co-star Kelly Lynch described of Patrick and his wife.

Steve Granitz, WireImage.com

Tom Cruise, who befriended Swayze on the set of 'The Outsiders,' said, "I've always known Patrick to be a good man, a fighter. We are all pulling for him and praying for a quick recovery."

Charley Gallay, Getty Images

The new photographs show Swayze exiting a smoke shop, where he is said to have purchased a glass pipe. Some attribute his comfort and weight gain to the use of medical marijuana. A source told the Enquirer that the drug, which many doctors suggest to relieve cancer symptoms, helps ease his nausea, insomnia and anxiety. Swayze feels more "normal than he has in months," said the source.

"Marijuana works extremely well" for many cancer patients, said California physician Dr. Ron Kennedy, who provides medicinal marijuana. "It helps fight nausea from chemotherapy treatments and may alleviate anorexia or lack of appetite."

Said the source: "Patrick and his brother Donnie get together almost every day and smoke a joint. They have been seen smoking weed on the roof of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center while Patrick was getting a treatment."

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=681543&pid=681542&uts=1249658430

http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/movies/?s_channel=us.moviespop&s_account=aolnews,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

Celebrity Health Scares

Steven Tyler fell off the stage at an Aerosmith concert in South Dakota on Aug. 5, sending him to the hospital with neck and shoulder injuries.

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Celebrity Health Scares

Steven Tyler fell off the stage at an Aerosmith concert in South Dakota on Aug. 5, sending him to the hospital with neck and shoulder injuries.

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Mischa Barton has been discharged from the hospital after being involuntarily placed under psychiatric hold on July 15.

Michael Bezjian, WireImage

Adam Yauch, known to most as Beastie Boys rapper MCA, has announced that he has cancer in his salivary gland, forcing the group to cancel their summer tour.

Bryan Bedder, Getty Images

'Passion of the Christ' actor Jim Caviezel suffered cuts and bruises after a man threw a bicycle into the path of his motorcycle. Luckily, the actor was wearing a helmet.

John Shearer, WireImage

'ER' actor Deezer D is recovering from dangerous heart surgery in which his aorta was replaced and a leaky valve was fixed.

Jean-Paul Aussenard, WireImage

Maura Tierney revealed that she has a tumor in her breast. "I will not know either my exact diagnosis or course of treatment until that surgery is performed. My doctors have all assured me this is a very treatable condition," she said in a statement.

Jeff Vespa, WireImage

Food-and-TV superstar Rachael Ray has undergone vocal cord surgery to remove a benign cyst in her throat.

Getty Images

Rupert Grint's publicist confirms the actor has battled swine flu, but should be well enough to attend the premiere of 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' this week in London.

Vince Talotta, Toronto Star / Zuma Press

Len Goodman, a judge on 'Dancing With The Stars,' is recovering at home following surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in his prostate gland.

Craig Sjodin, ABC

While filming a sumo wrestling scene for her new movie 'Morning Glory,' Diane Keaton hit her head and was taken to the hospital, but is doing fine now.

Ryan Born, WireImage

Tags: patrick swayze, PatrickSwayze

Comments

(316)

Friday 07 August

By dbldee1234

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Keep up the good work Patrick, you look great and are an inspiration to us all! In fact, I Just watched Dirty Dancing over the weekend, it's one of my favorites! Awesome movie with killer dancing! I look forward to seeing you in more movies to come. May God bless you with a long, happy life.

Sunday 09 August

By TrkDriver01

Way to go Patrick Swayze! I was so happy to read that his health was improving! I want to see him in more movies as well! Need to make "Black Dog 2", as his character Paul Cruse is the James Bond of Truck Driving!

By Ezgoing

Vote down Vote up Report this

Duh ? You and others need to get your eyes checked. He looks terrible. and he surely doesn't need to be smoking.

Monday 10 August

By Danny

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

If this isn't proof that medical marijuana works and should be legal everywhere I don't know what is.

By Dan

Geesh you guys are a bunch of doomsayers. My sister was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma when she was 15 in 1977 and was given only 3 or 4 months prognosis. Well, because of the great staff at the Farber Childrens hospital in Boston and her positive (some say stubborn) attitude, she lived for another 13 years. Patrick is still amount the living. Don't bury him before his time. I've seen some nurses at a hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan that shouldn't even be allowed near a cancer patient. They have your attitude. I know it's easy to become jaded after working around it so much. But geesh if you can't put on a good face for the patient. How to you think they can maintain a positive outlook? If you can't do that,then switch to another unit. Please! Good Luck Patrick...... you do look better than you did in some of the other pictures. Hang in there Pal.

By debbie

You go Patrick, you are my inspiration.

By Stacey

I like and respect patrick Swayze very much---but i'm sorry--What glow! Looks good compared to what? He looks terrible. His face looks sunken in and he looks like death has been knocking on his door. I hope he gets to looking better than this.

By Janelle

Hey, I agree. I mean, really, with all the respect to Patrick, he looks terrible. The weight "gain" in his face is probably from medicinal steriod use or something similar that causes fluid retention. Pancreatic cancer is a death sentence. It is virtually incurable except for those few miracles out there that we hear on the news. My father had it and I worry about getting it. It is so painfully emotional for everyone involved because of all the pain and suffering and wasting involved. I sometimes hate being a nurse because I can see right through stupid statements like, "Patrick is looking great." It's like telling someone that their loved one looks good in the casket....I hate that!

By sadiemae1214

Stacy, you obviously have never been around anyone recovering from cancer or in remission. I have. Recovery takes time, for many, it takes months. He's up and around and needs a shave, which is great. Get positive about his recovery because he's still a hunk and will get hunkier with time.

By CeCe

I agree with you. He looks very ill and nothing like himself. I do wish him well, but I am not optimistic.

By Jackie

Read the article again...it didn't say he looked good as in comparison to how he looked 10 years ago, but way better than he looked four months ago. Yes, he is still too thin, and no, he doesn't look as good as he did in "Road House," "Dirty Dancing," or "Ghost," but compared to how emaciated he was four months ago, he does look as if he is doing better. Pancreatic cancer is one of the nastiest forms of cancer to have, and one of the most painful. I wish him all the best -- he still can make MY heart skip a beat!

By GDixon

I agree Stacey, Patrick looks terrible. I hope he makes it, he is a great actor.

By mialanena

I third that!

By berneitac

I hope and PRAY that Patrick beats this cancer. He is a good person and family man. He is loved by a lot of people.

By Douglas

I second that!

By Cyndi

Sunday 09 August
By Janelle After reading what you wrote I believe you do not know how to love and support someone. I pray for you Patrick. I was my brother health care giver. He had bone cancer. He lived three years after two mini transplants and one major transplant. My brother started a program that is at three Hospitals for helping people recovering had a workout plan. Discovery Channel filmed my brother before we left for Shans. Awareness is so important. I believe my brother was so blessed to have showed me what he could do for people and how I treasured every minute with him. So who the Hell are you to write something like that?

By Kim

I completely agree! Patrick is a wonderful devoted husband and father and a truly good person. So sad to watch him suffer. And people tend to forget that half the battle with any type of cancer is giving up or going at it non-stop like you are on fire. Attitude has a TON to do with how long a person can live with cancer. My father was diagnosed with a lethal lung cancer at age 60. Doctors said he would be dead within a year. He died on his 73rd. birthday because he wasn't willing to let cancer beat him! Good luck to Patrick! Our family will pray for you!

Saturday 08 August

By Paula

Stacey, I agree with you--what glow? I love Patrick Swayze, have since the beginning. But, I'm sorry, he looks like my husband did just before he died. I wish him the best, but survivor rates for pancreatic cancer are very slim--most do not last over 5 yrs after diagnosis. I hope with all of his notoriety and funds, that he can beat the odds with some cutting-edge technology. I love you, Patrick--keep up the good fight!!

By barb

my better half had the same cancer as him, he lasted 9 months, look at his color of his skin it looks like it has a gray cast, he looks just better half did when he died, sorry he does not have long to live, let god take him home why do people put there bodies through so much pain to stay alive, good luck to him.

By Terry

I agree with you. Looking at Patrick's pictures reminds me of how my husband also looked before his death of esophageal cancer. Looks are so deceiving with cancer. You can see his chemo pump bag and he looks like he's gained weight to people that haven't walked this "journey" but I'm sure it's from the steriods he has to take to endure the chemo. God Bless him and his devoted wife.

Page 1 of 16