Patrick Swayze battled cancer like a ‘beast’, says book

NEW YORK - A new biography of Patrick Swayze has revealed how the actor bravely battled his cancer like a ‘beast’, after he was diagnosed with the illness.

In the book, titled ‘Patrick Swayze: One Last Dance’, the ‘Ghost’ star has confessed that It was on New Year’s Eve 2007 that he realised how his health was deteriorating.

And then, his wife Lisa, was informed that Swayze had pancreatic cancer and was given just a 5 percent chance to live.

However, Swayze didn’t give up on his career because of his poor health, but he was even more determined to work.

After receiving the news of his illness, Swayze called Sony executive Jamie Erlicht, whose company was co-producing his A and E show, ‘The Beast’.

“He told us, ‘Guys, I have some horrible news. But if you can be patient and stand by me, I’m going to come back and do the show. I’m in great condition. I’m a cowboy. I’m a dancer. I’ll beat this,’” the New York Daily News quoted Erlicht as saying.

And, while filming the TV series in Chicago, Swayze stayed focused on his work despite his sickness.

In fact, crewmembers have cited that he worked as long as 12 hours at a time, all while refusing painkillers.

And finally, the star completed every one of his 12 episodes, and when the show wrapped on Nov. 21 last year, Swayze was hopeful for the future and his survival.

He said: “My big regret is the physical damage I’ve done to my body. I can do almost anything physically and I used to believe I was invincible, breaking bones over and over, playing football, doing gymnastics, diving, ballet, doing my own stunts, kick boxing, staging fights … it all seems a little stupid to me now.” (ANI)