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."

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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.

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Tags: books, patrick swayze, PatrickSwayze

Comments

(252)

Friday 18 September

By kenda

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Prayers to his wife. Loved his movie City Of Hope.

By Bob

Patrick took the love with him rest in pease my friend

By Henry

I like the movie Red Dawn in which Patrick Swayze starred in. That movie remninds me of the Russo-Finnish war 1939-40. Finland did the same thing as those kids in that movie. My father was in the Finnish army and fought in that war. Even though Finland lost some land and a city the Soviet Union never took the country.

Saturday 19 September

By maggie

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I have never been one to watch a movie more than once, but Road House is one that I can watch all the time...cause of Swayzee.....the best movie...I used them as stocking stuffers last Christmas...may watch it today

By Myrick6

Thank you for sharing. I LOVE stories like that! The common man stands up, doesn't just roll over. I guess that's kind of what this actor did, not just roll over without a fight.

By Lori

Dirty Dancing was filmed in Pembroke, VA not in a small NC town!

RIP I was a huge fan :)

By Terri

I just read another article explaining that it was actually filmed in both locations, but a majority of the scenes came from Lake Lure.

I actually read the same one and went and looked at pics at lake lure and sure enough the staircase, the lodge, etc. was there... I live on the NC coast and now I want to visit Lake Lure :)

By rob

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sorry Lori, while some shots were from Pembroke and edited in the actual movie was shot in NC. I was there several times as an extra. Patrick Swazye is a class of actor every artist strives to be but few get to because their personal ego's over ride the levels of common sense. He was always just one of the guys, a real genunine "CLASS ACT"

By Constance

Dirty dancing was filmed at "Lake Lure" N.C. along the blue ridge parkway. Get your facts straight!

No need to say sorry or get your facts straight just having a discussion about movie. Grow up!

By Joyce Armentrout

I agree with you .It was at Mountain Lake, Va. I go there every summer.They are having a Dirty Dacing week end the first week end Of Nov again.I love it there. The lake is down now .But the hotel. cottages, etc.are great.

By Rhonda

I was a big fan of Patrick Swayze..God bless his wife Lisa. I lost my husband and I feel for what she is going thru... Many prayers from here

By mgw1962

What a loss. I fell in love with Patrick Swayze in The Outsiders, and then again in Dirty Dancing. It's difficult to see someone so young be taken by this disease, or any. God bless his lovely wife and family.

By Rennie

He will be missed, he left behind great movies, people who loved and repected him on film as well as in his everyday life, God rest your soul Patrick. You put up a brave fight and never gave up. Love you forever, and Thank you.

By neice

TO PATRICK FANS , DIRTY DANCING WAS FILMED IN VA AND NC, JUST LETTING SOME KNOW,

By Victoria

My husband passed away on June 26 after being diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer just like PATRICK. He only lived 7 months after being diagnosed. It is a very painful and horrible cancer to have. I applaud him for his will to live and fight every day just as my husband did. So everyone out there be glad you are alive and live every moment to the fullest because my husband and Patrick could control their destiny. Cancer is such an horrible thing and I HOPE SOME DAY THEY CAN FIND OUT WHAT CAUSES IT AND CURE IT. I miss you and so does the girls and family.

By Rich

Amen Victoria...
I, too, lost my wonderful wife to pancreatic cancer on May 21st. It is a horrible way to leave this world. I know exactly what you AND Lisa went through during this difficult time of life.
I also pray that one day they can find a cure for this dreaded disease.

Monday 21 September

By Lillie

my brother died from pancreatic cancer also.he'll be gone 6 years November 18th. I wish they would find a cause for it.

By E. Diedo

Patrick Swayze is the epitimy of what ALL actors should strive for, rest in peace my friend, and thanks for all you did....bless your family for their loss...

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