PATRICK SWAYZE - SWAYZE VOWS TO FIGHT ON DESPITE HOSPITAL VISIT

SWAYZE VOWS TO FIGHT ON DESPITE HOSPITAL VISIT

Actor Patrick Swayze has stressed that he is confident of beating his latest bout of illness, despite a recent stay in hospital.

The Dirty Dancing star was diagnosed with stage-four pancreatic cancer last year and may have less than two years to live.

And after he was hospitalised with pneumonia last week - forcing him to cancel an appearance at a promotional event for his new crime drama The Beast - fears grew for the 56-year-old's wellbeing.

However, Swayze has told People magazine he intends to fight on against his disease.

"I am alive and plan on continuing to stay that way," he said.

The Texan actor confirmed he anticipated the development of his recent pneumonia when he failed to shake off a persistent cough.

"It made me suspect there was a possibility of some kind of infection," he said.

"I wanted to jump on it before it turned into a problem. As soon as I got home, I called my doctor and then went straight to the hospital and was immediately put on antibiotics."

The Dirty Dancing star recently gave his first TV interview since being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and revealed he was "scared" and "going through hell".

However, he refused painkillers while filming The Beast and only missed a day-and-a-half of shooting due to his illness.

"He didn't want anyone to pamper him," explained the show's consulting producer Michael Dinner. "The only time he would get upset is if he felt the scripts were making it easy on him."