Patrick Swayze Has Cancer

A rep for Patrick Swayze said on Wednesday (March 5) that the actor is being treated for pancreatic cancer but also that he is not in as grave a condition as is being reported by several sources. The rep said via email: ''Patrick’s physician Dr. George Fisher states, 'Patrick has a very limited amount of disease and he appears to be responding well to treatment thus far. All of the reports stating the timeframe of his prognosis and his physical side effects are absolutely untrue. We are considerably more optimistic.'''

Several reports circulating on Wednesday said that Swayze had only a few weeks left to live and cited statistics about the short life expectancy for a person with pancreatic cancer. Swayze's rep painted a much rosier picture. ''Patrick is continuing his normal schedule during this time, which includes working on upcoming projects,'' the statement continues. ''The outpouring of support and concern he has already received from the public is deeply appreciated by Patrick and his family.''

Swayze's diverse resume includes movies from the '80s and '90s like The Outsiders, Red Dawn, Dirty Dancing, Point Break, and To Wong Foo. More recently, he appeared in a London stage production of Guys and Dolls and he recently worked with Forest Whitaker in the upcoming feature Powder Blue.