Patrick Swayze's Battle With Pancreatic Cancer: Lisa Niemi Opens Up

It’s been over a decade and a half since Lisa Niemi said goodbye to her beloved husband, Patrick Swayze, who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer in 2009. In a candid conversation on the “Amy and T.J. Podcast,” Lisa shared the moment she first learned about the devastating diagnosis that would change their lives forever.

That Heartbreaking Day: Patrick's Honest Reaction

“When Patrick first got the news about his pancreatic cancer, he turned to me and said, ‘I’m a dead man,’” Lisa, now 67, revealed during the podcast episode aired on April 8. “At that point, I didn’t know much about pancreatic cancer, but Patrick did. He knew how grim the prognosis usually was. Every time you heard someone had it, it felt like they were already gone.”

The weight of those words still lingers for Lisa, who recalls the shock and helplessness she felt at the time. “It wasn’t just fear—it was this overwhelming sense of inevitability. Patrick was so aware of the severity of the disease, and I realized quickly that we were facing something truly life-altering.”

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How the Diagnosis Was Delivered

Lisa explained that Patrick underwent an endoscopic procedure that ultimately confirmed his diagnosis. However, because Patrick was heavily sedated and in immense pain after the procedure, the doctors decided to break the news to Lisa first. “They wanted me to be prepared before Patrick woke up,” she said. “I remember sitting there, hearing these words, and trying to process what it all meant. It was surreal.”

Once Patrick regained consciousness, the doctors delivered the diagnosis directly to him. “Sure enough, the doctor told us, ‘You can fight it with everything you’ve got, but you should also start thinking about getting your affairs in order sooner rather than later,’” Lisa recounted. “That moment stayed with me forever. It was a gut punch, but we decided to face it head-on.”

A Lifelong Love Story

Lisa and Patrick’s love story began in their teenage years when they met as aspiring dancers. They tied the knot in 1975 and spent nearly three decades building a life together. Through thick and thin, their bond remained unshakable. Even as Patrick prepared for the challenges ahead, he remained open about his struggles.

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“You can bet that I’m going through hell,” Patrick famously told Barbara Walters in January 2009, just months before his passing. “And I’ve only seen the beginning of it.” Despite the grim outlook, Patrick and Lisa chose to focus on the time they had left, cherishing every moment together.

During that time, Lisa and Patrick retreated to their ranch in Los Angeles, where they sought solace amid the uncertainty. “There’s a lot of fear here,” Patrick admitted during the Barbara Walters interview. “There’s a lot of stuff going on. Yeah, I’m scared. Yeah, I’m angry. Yeah, I’m asking, ‘Why me?’ Yeah, I’m all of these things.”

Recognizing the Warning Signs

Patrick first noticed something was wrong on New Year’s Eve in 2007. “I tried to have champagne, and it felt like pouring acid on an open wound,” he recalled. “My indigestion issues grew bigger and constant. Then I started losing weight—about 20 pounds in no time. And when I looked in the mirror and saw my eyes turning yellow, I knew something serious was happening.”

Jaundice became a clear indicator of the underlying issue, leading Patrick to seek medical attention. Lisa remembered one poignant moment during a walk at their New Mexico ranch shortly after the diagnosis. “It was such a beautiful day, and Patrick looked at me with tears in his eyes. He said, ‘I want to live,’” she shared. “That moment reminded me of the deep love we shared and the fight we were in together.”

Patrick passed away on September 14, 2009, at the age of 57. His legacy lives on through his work and the love he inspired in those around him, including Lisa, who remarried in 2014 to Albert DePrisco.