Lisa Niemi Swayze on Pancreatic Cancer Advocacy and Finding Love After Loss

Nearly 15 years after the death of her husband Patrick Swayze, Lisa Niemi Swayze continues to honor his legacy through advocacy for pancreatic cancer awareness and research, while embracing a new chapter in her personal life.

Patrick Swayze passed away in 2009 following a 22-month battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 57. In the aftermath of his death, Lisa Niemi Swayze found purpose in transforming her grief into action, partnering with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) to support patients, raise funds for research, and increase public awareness of the disease.

She recalled being approached by PanCAN while still deep in her grief, initially hesitant to take on a public role but ultimately motivated by the belief that Patrick would have wanted their experience to help others. “It was really tough on me at that time, but I have to say, it gave me a way to keep his fight going, because he fought like hell to be here, and just because he was gone didn’t mean the fight was over,” she told Us Weekly.

What began as a personal tribute evolved into a sustained mission. Despite criticism that pancreatic cancer’s low survival rate makes advocacy futile, Niemi Swayze has expanded her efforts, championing research, patient support, and federal funding initiatives. “Progress has to be made,” she said, “and we have to keep on pushing forward.”

PanCAN also brings awareness to the pancreatic cancer fight through Purple Stride, the nonprofit’s annual fundraiser, held in 50 communities, which has raised more than $17.6 million to date.

Us Weekly

Niemi Swayze emphasized the importance of early detection, noting that symptoms such as persistent abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, jaundice, and sudden-onset diabetes are often overlooked until the disease is advanced. Drawing from her own experience, she urged others to listen to their bodies and seek medical attention promptly.

We are all for early detection, and that’s where breast cancer really made its strides. [Often] by the time they discover that they have cancer, it’s very advanced, and that was the same with Patrick.

Lisa Niemi Swayze, Us Weekly

She also reflected on the emotional toll of caregiving, acknowledging that she had neglected her own needs during Patrick’s illness. “I used to go to TJ Maxx if I was able to take a break,” she recalled. “I’d go two hours searching for the perfect T-shirt. I pay my 12 bucks, and I’m out of there. That was my break, and it worked, but I didn’t do enough of it, and I should have done a lot more and gotten a lot more support.”

Recognizing that her silence came at a personal cost, she now advocates for caregivers to seek support and prioritize their well-being. “I kept everything down outside of me because I was being strong for him,” she explained. “It was the biggest battle of my life.”

Beyond her advocacy, Niemi Swayze has found new love. She remarried in 2014 to jeweler Albert DePrisoc, a relationship she believes Patrick would have supported. “I asked Albert, ‘Does it bother you that I still love Patrick?’ And he said, ‘I know you do. But I’m here to love you now.’”

She described the early stages of their relationship as both surprising and nerve-wracking, noting that after 34 years with Patrick, reentering the dating world felt like starting over. “I felt like a 17 year old,” she said, recalling how she listened to Kelly Clarkson’s “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger” before her first date with Albert.

Today, Niemi Swayze maintains a deep connection to Patrick’s memory, often feeling his presence in everyday moments on her farm. “One of the things about losing someone is every day, almost, I’m on this farm with these beautiful horses and I go, ‘Oh gosh, I wish I could see this right now. I wish I could see the sunset. If only he were here. I could share this with him.” She added that she talks to him, feels his presence, and believes he guides her.

Fans continue to approach her to share how much Patrick’s work meant to them, a testament to his enduring legacy. “It’s wonderful — crazy, actually — that after all this time, he’s still very beloved,” she said. “People say, ‘Patrick was my favorite actor. I was so in love with Patrick when I was X years old.’ And I just love it that people still love them so much. I always tell them, ‘You have really good taste.’”