Patrick Swayze Is Determined To Keep On Fighting

Actor Patrick Swayze, who has been undergoing treatment for inoperable stage-four pancreatic cancer, checked into a hospital Friday morning with pneumonia. In the meantime, Swayze was scheduled to join costar Travis Fimmel and producers in presenting A&E's new drama “The Beast” to critics.

Recently Swayze has been in the news for his battle with stage-four pancreatic cancer, of which he has not received a very positive diagnosis in his battle with the disease. Now he is facing a bought of pneumonia, which is probably related to his weakened immune system as a result of cancer treatments.

Before he was placed in the hospital on Friday morning, Swayze was supposed to make an appearance on the TCA winter press tour in Universal City. The intent was to continue promotion for his brand new television series, which is set to have its premiere shortly.

According to A&E reps, Swayze specifically asked that the show go on and that they pass along a message from him about how "unbelievably proud" he is of the work they've done so far on “The Beast.”

At the event, Bill Rotko, creator of “The Beast,” says: "Although you forget sometimes that Patrick's going through treatment for cancer, it brings you very close together. There's a tremendous amount of respect going on." In this current show, Swayze plays an FBI agent, Charles Barker, training a young new partner, Ellis Dove (Travis Fimmel).

According to John Romano, exec producer and showrunner of “The Beast,” producers of the series are looking forward to shooting a season two of the series with Swayze. The first, 13-episode season had finished all of its filming by November. Producers insisted they're confident that Swayze will be ready for a second season.

Swayze, 56, announced last May that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In a recent interview with Barbara Walters of ABC, Swayze said that his cancer battle has been "a nightmare."

Swayze appeared on the ABC, NBC, and CBS simulcast of “Stand Up to Cancer” in September 2008, to appeal to the general public for donations for the initiative. Swayze said to a standing ovation, "I dream that the word 'cure' will no longer be followed by the words 'it's impossible.' Together, we can make a world where cancer no longer means living with fear, without hope, or worse."

He is best-known as a romantic leading man in films such as “Dirty Dancing” (1987) and “Ghost” (1990), for which he received Golden Globe nominations, along with his performance in “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar” (1995). He was listed by People magazine as its "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1991.

Via efluxmedia.com