Swayze Memoir: No to Painkillers, Yes to 'An Amazing Ride'

By PopEater Staff Posted Sep 18th 2009 09:24AM

In a quest to remain mentally sharp, Patrick Swayze turned away painkillers while enduring rigorous chemotherapy treatments during much of his battle with pancreatic cancer, his soon-to-be-released memoir, 'The Time of My Life,' will reveal. That, along with the actor's reaction and stoic acceptance of his disease, are just some of topics found in the book, according to excerpts highlighted by NBC's 'Today' and the NY Daily News. 'Life,' out Sept. 29, was co-written with wife Lisa Niemi.

Swayze died Monday evening in Los Angeles. Funeral plans have not been set, however fans will stage a memorial this weekend in the small North Carolina town where the actor's biggest film, 'Dirty Dancing' was filmed. Excerpts from 'The Time of My Life,' after the jump.

Discovering the Cancer:
"I had been having some digestive trouble, mostly acid reflux and a kind of bloated feeling, for a few weeks ... I've had a sensitive stomach my whole life, so I hadn't thought much of it, but lately I just couldn't shake the constant discomfort ... My doctor told me my chances of surviving for more than a few months weren't high and I had no reason to doubt him."

Disbelief ...
"I had been excited about the upswing my life was on ... Now it all seemed like a cruel joke. I couldn't be dying -- I had too much to live for!"

... And Acceptance:
"I began thinking to myself, I've had more lifetimes than any 10 people put together, and it's been an amazing ride. So this is okay."

No Painkillers:
"I continued with chemotherapy all the way through the shoot [for his TV show, 'The Beast']. But I never took any painkillers since they dull not only your pain but also your sharpness."

Thanking the Love of His Life:
"How grateful I am that you chose to love me. I know that because of you, I've found my spirit. I saw the man I wanted to be. You are my woman, my lover, my mate and my lady. I loved you forever, I love you now and I will love you forever more."

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=721721&pid=721720&uts=1253033626

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

Patrick & Lisa: A Love Story

A 19-year-old Swayze met Lisa Niemi in 1970 at his mother's dance studio and she immediately brought the cocky hunk and his ego down to earth. "She didn't buy any of my nonsense," he's said of their early days. "We spent half our dates in total silence as she wouldn't talk to me if she thought I was putting on an act." Five years later they were married.

Getty Images

Tags: books, patrick swayze, PatrickSwayze

Comments

(252)

Friday 18 September

By jwa1976743

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

i was not a huge fan of patrick's, but i APPAULED they way he lived his life. he could make a great role model for some of these people who love in the spotlight. he was a TRUE GENTLEMAN! staying true to himself and those around him... he was never in the tabloids being protrayed in a negative manner. we could all learn a lesson from this gentleman.

By Maria

I hope you meant "APPLAUD"...

Saturday 19 September

By Cat

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

You mean you APPLAUD...correct?

By JS

Forget the grammer error, well said!!

By RKL

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

It's not a grammar error, or grammer as you say...it's a spelling error; I hope

By michael

GILDA RADNER... did the same thing with her book. called " ITS ALWAYS SOMETHING " its a great book also.. and i wil also read this one if i can make it threw it...
i grew with him as actor and a film buff.... i rember him from RED DAWN etc... and otehr films i saw when iw as little on the big screen, and still cherrish as an adult....

By LIZ

I am saddened to hear of Patrick's passing but he is now a lot happier and safer with his family and loved ones around him. There is no better place to be than being in the presence of God's paradise which He prepared for His children to be after this life. RIP my dear friend. I will always miss him!!

By kristi

Vote down Vote up Report this

I most certainly agree, I hope it was applaud!

By G

Thanks for your classy comments. Well said and taken.

By amor345620659

I totally agree. I did like him and yes, it is amazing that he was able to keep himself out of the ugly spotlight that so many seem to adore. You never heard anything bad about him. Today's actors/actresses and so-called celebrities should try this themselves. They all complain about the media but they will do anything to stay in it.

By mrs bridges1212

HOW DARE ANYONE GET ON THESE BLOGS,AND FEEL THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO COMMENT ON ANYONES SPELLING OR GRAMMAR.THEN NOT EVEN COMMENT ON THE TOPIC.WELL MR. OR MS. THINK UR SPECIAL ENOUGH TO JUDGE SOMEONE.WHEN INFACT U MY DEAR OR NO BETTER THAN THE NEXT.LET ME SCHOOL U ON (RESPECT) WE KNOW U CAN SPELL AND READ,BUT WHAT GOOD DOES IT DO WHEN NO ONE WANTS TO TALK TO U CUZ U LAKE THE MOST IMPORTANT RESPECT.MRS.FRANKLIN CAN MAKE U UNDERSTAND.

By Kelly

APPAULD???

By Jack

Why have so many idiots questioned an obvious error, of course he or she meant "applaud" since the body of the comment clearly expresses approval. Geez, was this so hard to figure out or are you folks that eager to point out an innocent but decipherable error.

By aphillips

Agreed...the article stated that the filming was in NC....it finished up there because it was fall and the leaves at Mountain Lake in Newport, VA were starting to change and this was a "summer" movie. The hotel where the filming took place is Mountain Lake Hotel and has been there for many,many years...my great-aunt's father used to own it in the late 1800s and early 1900s...still a beautiful spot. Some Va.Tech students played extras in the movie....one of the best and one of my favorites.
And Patrick made that movie what it was.........

By Mike

it appears he lived a very full life and was fortunate enough to not only find his soul mate, but be with her to the end. We should all be so fortunate. RIP Patrick, and thanks for all the entertainment you provided me thru the years

Sunday 20 September

By Lisa

R.I.P. you were very much a Gentleman!

By nina nesbitt

I've always LOVED Patrick.....everything TO love!!! So very handsome, outstanding/awesome actor, funny and serious.....and most of all, what a wonderful husband!!!! No doubt he was a wonderful son and brother(?) too! My hats off to his parent....you raised a WONDERFUL...BEAUTIFUL person!!! And, yes, Maria (and others) I was "appauld" by seeing THAT word....lol. I realize a mistake was made but, boy, was I taken aback at first sight of it!!! I feel so sad, so old, now, that all these people I've grown up watching are dying!! RIP Patrick!!! There's NO doubt that you've earned your wings in heaven. And, poor Lisa, my heart goes out to you sweety....what a loss for you! I can only imagine how you are feeling right now!!! God bless you! The only, admittedly less than perfect thing I can think to say to you? At least you had this wonderful man's heart for a long, long time....just not long enough!!!! You MUST be a very special person too!!!!

Nina Nesbitt

You never heard anything bad of him or the way he treated people. Seems Patrick Swayze was a very class act, both in real life and during work. I guess that's why there are not many comments on here for a decent human being. I mean let's remember that people only seem to get involved with idiots in every form these days. If your a decent man or woman you don't get the attention that the vast majority have to have to breath. Our moral character as people is unreal these days. R.I.P. Patrick Swayze and the best to your family.

By Tommy

I agree with your comments.... He seemed to be a great guy and loyal husband....I wish more Hollywood was like him..

By dchickeyd

I wish more people were like him true to himself and to his wife. How many of us thank the one we're with for being chose by them. Fairy tales do happen..............

Page 1 of 13