It was hard to hear that actor Patrick Swayze had died of pancreatic cancer. And it might be easy to think that he simply lost his battle. But his oncologist sees it in a different light.
Dr. George Fisher, a Stanford oncologist who treated Swayze, said that for his patient to have lived two years with the condition is "quite an accomplishment." He spoke with CNN's Larry King on Tuesday night; Swayze died on Monday.
Less than 25 percent of patients with pancreatic cancer that has spread survive a year after diagnosis, the doctor said. And yet Swayze is proof that it is possible.
"Patients can survive two years -- even longer, even with standard treatment," Fisher said. "It's just sad that not as many do." He attributes part of Swayze's success to his participation in a clinical trial and his determination to keep working.
For the full story of Fisher's interview with King, as well as a link to a video, here's a link:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/09/16/patrick.swayze.pancreatic.cancer/index.html