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.

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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."

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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)

Sunday 09 August

By Lisa

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You Go Patrick :-) I am very Happy for you we weren't ready for you to go one less worry

By Wadester

I'm so glad to hear that Patrick Swayze is doing a little better, and not giving up the fight.

By Dorothy

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I'm hoping you beat him to it...

By Trinette

He gets some relief from weed? Good for him. His is certainly putting up real fight. Jen, your friend with cancer, didn't smoke weed? You don't that. Even your friends do thing you don't know about. Just like no one knows everything you do. C'mon now.

By SassyFrassy

ACCORDING TO HEALTH SCIENCE INSTITUTE ---MARIJUANA CAUSES CANCER it is an ORIGINATING source of Cancer.

PATRICK should do what steve jobs did to help his Cancer.

By BrianaAmour

I love Patrick. He's such a strong person. I'm really happy to see that he's not giving up on life. He's not trying to get everyone to pity him either, like a lot of people do. Keep going strong Patrick.

By don

You first.

By murleen

Our thoughts are with Patrick and support whatever helps him thru this. Enjoy the cruise and I'll have one for you.
Interesting how remaining anonymous gives some folks the gonads they never had before!

By athensbetty

I am so glad he is doing so good.I am a breast cancer survivor and i know all to well the effects of chemo.If I could smoke marijianua I would because of the effects of chemo,not being able to sleep,and depression and pain from the radition. If it helps do it,what have you got to lose?My doctor does not offer it where i lived but I think every state should make it avaible to cancer patients if they want it.The doctors just don't understand what is it like to live with cancer.

By Walt

thanks to marijuana he will live through his fight with cancer. And the DEA said marijuana has no medicinal properties

Monday 10 August

By beulah

god bless u patrick i will keep praying for u

By nan

patrick is not a.;,;[;,.l yu stupid jerk.he has a beautiful wife that is by his side all the time ...YOUUUUU GET A LIFEEEEEE

By bob

You can get treatment I mean the good kind of treatment if you have money. The poor people just die!!!! While the rich get richer. All this says is SMOKE MORE POT............

By Alex

Hey Patrick!! Wanna go natural?? ....this remedy does actually CURE you in a matter of weeks.... Is a natural remedy for Cancer, Aloe Vera based...
3 aloe vera leafs (cutting the sides, but leaving the skin top and bottom), 1/2 kg of 100% honey, and a tablespoon of tequila, or any alcohol ( in the blender until all elements are mixed and there is a certain viscosity to it... TAKE 1 tablespoon 15 MINUTES BEFORE EACH MEAL. for 15 to 20 days, continue process until cancer has faded... got nothing to loose, aloe vera is cheap if not free, honey Im sure you can afford it, and 1 tablespoon of tequila *to expand the blood vessels.... and none of these will hurt you if it doesnt save you... It saved me :-) just sharing it with you thru here, hoping you or someone you know would read it... peace ^i^

By erin

Compared to the pics a month or so ago he is looking great! No its not the Patrick Swayze that we had that amazing crush on but he looked like death in those pics a while back and the fact that he is looking better is amazing. If he needs to smoke pot to help him gain his weight and weather this storm so be it and for those of you to judge him for that, chances are your time will come to have to make that choice for yourself and you will reconsider Im certain! Nothing but prayers and best of wishes for him to fight this and beat it! It would make a world of difference if he did, talk about a break through!

By sue

you must have an IQ of about 50. Your words suggest that you are a very low functioning person. Did you graduate out of the sixth grade?

By cange

AOL said medical marijuana was a "controversial" drug. I guess they got in a time machine and went back to 1986 to consult with Nancy Reagan on this story.

By Jules

No doubt, I thought the same thing...calling it a "controversial drug" is laughable...13 states have no legalized it for medicinal use and soon more states will follow. I don't care if it's a red or blue state, eventually, citizens will demand it be available for treatment everywhere. As it stands now, it's ok to down oxys, percs, any kind of pill you want, but you can't ingest a natural herb for relief?!?!? Give me a break! The comment about big pharm and lobbiests was spot on!

By Lindsay

PHOTOSHOP, PHOTOSHOP, PHOTOSHOP....There's nothing that is making him look better...he's too sick for that....but tech can make anyone look better....poor guy...I wonder if he approved the PHOTOSHOP do over?

By Terry

I hope Mr. Swayze can beat cancer. I have no problem with medical marijuana. I am just wondering what his care would look like under the new proposed healthcare guidelines the president is pushing. It would be nice if he would give us a sample of how this would work with a "phantom" case or two. Just a thought ot two, not trying to be mean, but the nation is talking about this and I think the beurocrates need to deliver. Some folks do need to shut up and listen but part of the problem is that the politicians are saying they dont have time nor have made the time to read the bills. This is a real problem, im sorry. Cramming legislation down politicians throat (both sides do it) is not very good government and its we the people that usually lose, not them in the end.

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