andPOP » cancer

Patrick Swayze Dead At 57

Jeremy Singer — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:50:08 +0000

In a year littered with celebrity passings, one more soul was added to the list today as Houston-born actor Patrick Swayze died- after a nearly two year battle with pancreatic cancer.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the 57-year-old Dirty Dancing star passed away with family at his side.

“Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months,” said a statement released Monday evening in Los Angeles by his publicist, Annett Wolf. No other details were given.

Swayze first came forward about his diagnosis in spring 2008, but decided to undergo treatments at the Stanford University Medical Center and still continue working at the same time-most recently on A&E’s now cancelled series The Beast. The actor was told he had Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm (IPMN), a rare stage IV pancreatic cancer.

After he was treated with Cyberknife radiotherapy cancer treatment in 2008, Swayze appreared to be healthy -appearing on the ABC, NBC and CBS Simulcast of Standup to Cancer- but on January 9 2009, the actor was hospitilized with Pneumonia.

Swayze checked out a week later, but was then told in April 2009 that the cancer had attacked his liver. The actor admitted that his chain smoking “may had haved something to do with it,” but continued to smoke regardless.

Story Developing…

Ted Kennedy, Last of Kennedy Men, Dies at 77

Emma Renda — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:10:32 +0000

U.S. Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy, the last surviving brother of the political family, died last night after more than a year battling brain cancer, according to CBC. Kennedy, 77, was surrounded by his family in Hyannis Port, Mass. when he passed.

Kennedy was one of the longest serving senators in American history, spending almost a total of 47 years in office. He was originally elected in 1962 when his brother, John F. Kennedy, was president. In 1980, he sought the Democratic party nomination against sitting president Jimmy Carter but his plans were ruined by a scandalous car accident in Martha’s Vineyard in which he pleaded guilty to leaving the scene.

Kennedy then devoted his career to senate work. He was a staunch advocate for universal health care in the United States, and wrote more than 2,500 bills including the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, Meals on Wheels for the elderly, and access to abortion clinics.

“I’ve benefited from the best of medicine, but I’ve also witnessed the frustration and outrage of patients and doctors alike as they face the challenges of a system that shortchanges millions of Americans,” he wrote in the Boston Globe this May.

Kennedy was also a strong critic of the war in Iraq.

During last year’s presidential candidacy, Kennedy personally endorsed Barack Obama. Despite his weakened condition, Kennedy attended Obama’s inauguration this January, but collapsed of fatigue at a luncheon following the ceremony. In a press conference earlier today, Obama expressed condolences to Kennedy’s family.

“His ideas and ideals are stamped on scores of laws and reflected in millions of lives,” Obama said in the press conference.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is married to Kennedy’s niece Maria Shriver, also issued a statement this morning to express his grief on behalf of the family.

“Teddy taught us all that public service isn’t a hobby or even an occupation, but a way of life and his legacy will live on,” Schwarzenegger said in his statement.

Kennedy was the youngest of nine in the Kennedy family, and the only son to die of natural causes.

Farrah Fawcett Hospitalized

Joelle Tomlinson — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 03:15:44 +0000

Farrah Fawcett has been hospitalized and is in bad shape. Fawcett has been battling cancer for three years and recently returned from Germany, where she had experimental stem-cell treatment. Sources told RadarOnline.com that she is critical but stable in a Los Angeles-area hospital. They also say she is unconscious and has been hospitalized for days.

The 62-year-old Charlie’s Angel, who was first diagnosed with the disease in 2006, has been hospitalized in Los Angeles since Thursday, according to People.

After undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, doctors said Fawcett was cancer free in February 2007, only to see the disease return three months later. Later that year, she and ex-husband Ryan O’Neal traveled to Germany for embryonic stem cell cancer treatment, an alternative method not available in the United States.

O’Neal has been by Farrah’s bedside, as has her troubled son Redmond, who escaped from rehab earlier this week.

Jade Goody Raises Cancer Awareness

Talia Ricci — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:04:58 +0000

Since the tragic death of British reality TV show star Jade Goody, cancer organizations have reported an increase in women inquiring about effects and testing of cancer. Goody was diagnosed with cervical cancer which is curable if caught early. PEOPLE reports that friend and publicist Max Clifford said “Her legacy will be that a lot of women owe their lives to Jade Goody because of her public announcement and battle against cervical cancer.”

It has been reported that there has been as much as a 30% increase in women being tested. Cancer Research UK, Britain’s largest cancer charity, gives Goody credit for an increase in awareness about the disease. Goody has certainly left a positive impact on women everywhere.

Jade Goody Dies Of Cancer At Age 27

Joelle Tomlinson — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:45:41 +0000

Jade Goody died in her sleep today following a public battle with cancer, her publicist Max Clifford said.

According to perezhilton.com, the reality TV star died with her mother Jackiey Budden at her side at her home in Upshire, Essex, at 3:14 a.m. on Mother’s Day.

“My beautiful daughter is at peace,” Ms Budden said. “Family and friends would like privacy at last”

Referring to how her public battle with cancer has raised awareness of the disease, Mr Clifford said: “I think she’s going to be remembered as a young girl who has, and who will, save an awful lot of lives”.

“She was a very, very brave girl, and she faced her death in the way she faced her whole life – full on, with a lot of courage.”

He said it was “ironic” that the 27-year-old – who had two young sons Bobby, five, and Freddie, four – had died on Mother’s Day.

Mr Clifford said he hoped Goody’s family would now be left in peace to grieve.

Don Imus Announces He Has Cancer

Talia Ricci — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:04:28 +0000

Don Imus, the controversial radio personality, has announced he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer but is hopefull about making a full recovery. The cancer has not been spread to other organs. Imus announced on air, “I have great confidence in my doctors, I’ll be fine. If I’m not fine, then I won’t be fine. And it’s not a big deal.”

Bif Naked’s ‘Promises’

Jennifer Brooks — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 14:03:58 +0000

We all know Bif Naked as a tough as nails punk rocker chick who creates in your face rock anthems with a side of sweetness.

Bif’s been through a lot these last few years, including being diagnosed with breast cancer and recording a new album entitled ‘Promises’ while simultaneously going through 13 months of chemo and radiation therapy.

Bif sure is one tough lady. The album is set to be released on May, 5th, 2009 and Bif took to her official blog to let the world know that she is a fighter. “I had planned to release a record in 2009 and it is not in my being to let ANYTHING stop me,” she writes.

“I was determined to make this new record if it was the last thing I did” says Bif, who is now strong, healthy and inspired. “I wrote songs from my bed. When it was time to record, the studio was moved so it was a block up the street from my condo…all I had to do was to force myself to walk up the hill, with my bald head and in my pyjamas — like Quasimodo. The headphones would constantly slip off my shiny head! Some days were good and some days were horrific. Sometimes I couldn’t do a thing, other days I could only sing for an hour, and then crawl home to my bed. We took it day by day.”

The first single entitled “Sick” is said to be a powerful song with a universal theme. “Performing is my passion. I owe it to myself and to my fans to keep evolving and to keep challenging myself and I just can’t wait to rock.”

Intruder In Jade Goody’s Hospital Room

Talia Ricci — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:09:06 +0000

The 27 year old actress who is spending her last days with terminal cancer in the hospital, faced a traumatizing break in on Sunday afternoon after a woman entered Goody’s room with a hammer. Goody screamed which alerted staff and removed the woman. PEOPLE reports that a A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirms, “Police were called on Sunday and arrested a woman in possession of an offensive weapon. She was taken into custody at a west London police station. Following the advice of Crown Prosecution Service the 41-year-old woman was release with no further action.”

Goody celebrated her two sons’ baptisms Saturday as one of her final wishes.

Peter Tork Diagnosed With Rare Cancer

Jeremy Singer — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:19:58 +0000

Peter Tork, a former member of 1960s group The Monkees, has been diagnosed with a rare cancer in his head and neck.

According to E! News, the 67-year-old musician and actor has adenoid cystic carcinoma, and underwent surgery to remove the growth on his tongue on Wednesday.

“It’s a bad news, good news situation,” the “I’m a Believer” Tork said. “It’s so rare a combination that there isn’t a lot of experience among the medical community about this particular combination.”

“On the other hand, the type of cancer it is, nevermind the location, is somewhat well known, and the prognosis, I’m told, is good.”

Tork’s biopsy has shown that the cancer has fortunately not spread past it’s original site. Once recovered from the surgery, he is expected to begin a round of radiation treatment.

Jade Goody’s Baptism A ‘Final Request’

Joelle Tomlinson — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 06:25:32 +0000

In another heart-breaking development, it was revealed that dying reality star Jade Goody was baptized in a touching ceremony on Saturday in London.

According to celebuzz.com, the service took place in the chapel of London’s Royal Marsden Hospital, amid close friends and family. Fragile Goody was in a wheelchair for the 20-minute service. She was in a hospital gown and attached to a drip, reports the Daily Mail. Goody had specified that she wanted to have her baptism in an actual church, but she was in no condition to leave the hospital.

Her two sons, Bobby, five, and Freddy, four, were also christened with their 27-year-old mom.

The baptism with her children was one of her final requests. Her spokesperson Max Clifford said Jade told him about her children’s baptism, “They have got Jesus around them now.”

He went on to add that he does not expect Jade to leave the hospital. ”It was in my mind that she was saying a final goodbye to some people as she was smiling and kissing them on the way out,” Clifford said. “It was a very short and emotional service. I think everybody knew just how important it was to Jade.”