Despite his ailments, Swayze has categorically denied reports that he was close to death. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
LOS ANGELES - CANCER-STRICKEN actor Patrick Swayze has checked himself into hospital after coming down with pneumonia, US media report said on Friday.
Swayze's condition was revealed at a press event for the Television Critics Association in Los Angeles, where Swayze had been due to appear to promote his new television series 'The Beast' on the A&E channel.
'Patrick Swayze has checked himself into the hospital ... we wish him the very best with his recovery,' A&E president Abbe Raven was quoted as saying.
Swayze's spokesperson could not be immediately contacted for comment.
The development surrounding the 'Ghost' and 'Dirty Dancing' star comes just days after an interview in which he admitted he was 'going through hell' in his fight with pancreatic cancer.
The 56-year-old heart-throb told ABC television interviewer Barbara Walters he was 'scared and angry' but determined to beat the disease.
'You can bet that I'm going through hell,' Swayze said.'I'm at the beginning of my battle. And I expect it to be a long hard battle, one that I'm gonna win according to certain rules & the rules that the cancer isn't going away.'
He also categorically denied reports that he was close to death.
'Am I dying? Am I giving up? Am I on my deathbed? Am I saying goodbye to people? No way,' he stated. -- AFP
