Patrick Swayze cancer diagnosis

Patrick Swayze diagnosed with aggressive cancer

American actor Patrick Swayze has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, his agent has confirmed.

Reports abound that the Dirty Dancing star only has weeks to live, but his doctor has described the rumours as ‘absolutely untrue’.

His doctor, George Fisher, said in a statement: ‘Patrick has a very limited amount of disease and he appears to be responding well to treatment thus far.

‘All of the reports stating the timeframe of his prognosis and his physical side effects are absolutely untrue.’

Swayze, who also starred in the hit film Ghost alongside Demi Moore, was diagnosed with cancer more than a month ago, according to the New York Post, and is currently undergoing treatment while continuing with his film schedule.

Swayze’s agent, Annett Wolf, added: ‘Patrick is continuing his normal schedule during this time, which includes working on upcoming projects.

‘The outpouring of support and concern he has already received from the public is deeply appreciated by Patrick and his family.’

The 55-year-old Texan-born star has been working on Powder Blue, opposite Jessica Biel, Forest Whitaker, and his younger brother, Don Swayze.

Swayze shot to fame as Johnny Castle in 1987’s Dirty Dancing. In 1990, he made hearts melt in Ghost, and in 1991 he shared the screen with Keanu Reeves in cult surf movie, Point Break.

More recently, Patrick has been treading the boards, with a star turn in Chicago in 2003, and opposite Claire Sweeney in Guys and Dolls in 2006.

Patrick has been married for 30 years to fellow dancer Lisa Niemi. Both have pilot licences and have been flying their private jet into Palo Alto’s airport, just minutes away from the Stanford Csncer Centre, where he is receiving treatment.

Although Patrick is said to be responding well to treatment, doctors warn that chemotherapy is not a cure, and will only slow the growth of the tumour and ease symptoms.