at 16:19 on January 9, 2009, EDT.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS


In this Nov. 28, 2005 file photo, actor Patrick Swayze poses for the photographers, prior to the premiere of his new film "Keeping Mum" at a Leicester Square cinema in central London. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Lefteris Pitarakis, file

LOS ANGELES - Patrick Swayze has checked himself into the hospital for observation after contracting pneumonia, A&E President Abbe Raven announced Friday at a meeting of the Television Critics Association.

Swayze was scheduled to appear to discuss his upcoming drama "The Beast."

Robert DeBitetto, A&E's programming senior vice president, explained his absence.

"Patrick has asked that I tell you that this morning he checked himself into the hospital for observation," said DeBitetto. "Chemotherapy can take its toll on the immune system, and illnesses are a part of that. Patrick wishes me to tell you that he's very sorry he cannot attend, but plans to get back to promoting 'The Beast' soon."

Earlier this week, Swayze told ABC's Barbara Walters that his yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer put him "through hell" while he pushed ahead on his new TV series.

The 56-year-old actor also owned up to his fear: "Yeah, I'm scared. Yeah, I'm angry. Yeah, I'm (asking), 'Why me?"'

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On the Net:

http://www.aetv.com/


©The Canadian Press, 2009


I hope this is not the end of his battle. He's a favourite actor of mine. Please get better Patrick

Well I hope this doesn't mean that it will get worse from here on out...though pnuemonia is hard to overcome when your immune system is weak...so it doesn't look too good.

Uh oh. Unfortunately, my father died from the complications of Cancer. Hopefully Patrick will be ok, but it's not a good sign.

I hope he can bounce back...i just saw his interview with barbara walters...him & his wife Lisa seem like nice people. married 33 yrs...i will always love "Dirty dancing" & "Ghost"

I'm really sorry to hear this....I hope it's not the end of his battle either. I send my prayers.

hope he'll be ok

He really blew it to a large degree IMO when he was interviewed by Barbara Walters and tried to justify that the fact that he is still smoking cigarettes today. He wants to live. He wants to fight this thing. He wants to kick its ass, etc. But he's still smoking cigarettes, which is very possibly what caused it to begin with. His excuses given for smoking were just sad to me.

"Only One battle at a time...I never smoke in front of children...If I knew I could beat this thing I would quit in a second."

It's just unimaginable to me that after all the years and mounting evidence that tobacco companies can still sell a product that kills the user. In the strongest terms..."Let the buyer beware." It does show that the mind, although relatively intelligent, can allow itself to become addicted to substances that are nothing less than pure poison. I do understand the fact that you have the freedom to choose to smoke, but the tobacco companies deliberately added addictive substances to the product, and for that they should be punished to the max. IMO

noimageatall said:

Yeah, that's what I didn't get. Dude, quit fucking smoking. Period. It may not reverse anything but it sure the fuck can't possibly be helping anything either.

noimageatall said:

Yeah, I watched the interview last night and he had me in his back pocket until he got to the cigarette part. How does continuing to smoke seem at all logical.
But I guess it's not different than people with cancer of the throat or larynx who smoke cigarettes through their neck hole.
[Edited 1/9/09 23:19pm]

noimageatall said:

He is smoking? Oh, no! I did not even know he smoked! Bless his heart. I am sure it is a hard addiction to break. I like him from the movie Ghost and Dirty Dancing.

I did not watch the Barbara Walters interview. I do not like Barbara Walters so much. (I used to watch The View, but I do not her or that Elisabeth woman. ) With him, I know he wanted to tell his story, but to me the situation is just so sad what is happening to him as far as the media in addition to his illness, of course. God bless him, and give him and his family strength through these difficult times.

P.S. May I ask, I wonder why people start smoking given all the stuff we know about cigarettes? We went out to eat last night. We sat outside, and there was a whole group of younger women smoking and drinking. We do not smoke, and we were a little shocked to see them smoking--not because we have any judgment because it does not concern us and did not bother us. I was just wondering why they started? I am afraid so afraid of the consequences, smoking scares me.
[Edited 1/10/09 4:52am]

Smoking will never stop, just liking Drinking wont and other addictions that cause diseases. I think in years to come that "Bottled Water" is going to be exposed as the biggest health risk of them all.

lastdecember said:

Get some rest, yo.

heres the youtube link (5 parts)

http://www.youtube.com/wa...4pPwj1WPAg

Honestly...how many more days..months will quiting smoking give him?

like he said..its about quality of life that is left..I dont see him lasting more than a few months..i hope its more but just amazed he has lasted this long.

MuthaFunka said:

eh, i watched my neighbor die a few years ago from the same thing. He didnt quit smoking either... i dont think the doctors thought it mattered either way.

noimageatall said:

My grandfather died of lung cancer. He smoked til the day he died.

i think it's asinine that the government allows certain drugs to be legal and not others.

horatio said:

But damn...just the mere NERVE to even do the shit - even if it's just to say "Hey look, God...I'm TRYIN' to do better" just in case!

i love swayze in the movie roadhouse

hope he gets better soon

as 4 his smoking

my dad smoked, but when he found out he had to have surgery, he quit.....

turned out to be cancer
[Edited 1/10/09 18:38pm]

I really hope Patrick SURVIVES. He was ALWAYS GORGEOUS and a COOL ACTOR. He is SUPPOSE to be on ELLEN this coming FRIDAY and hope he is able or it was PRE-TAPED. He was AWESOME in DIRTY DANCING , GHOST and I Loved him in THE OUTSIDERS. I'm PRAYING that he makes it....

Vendetta1 said:

I'm starting to feel that tobacco should be illegal

I look at all of my friends and 80% of them smoke