Less than a week before the premiere of his new police drama, The Beast, Patrick Swayze, who is battling pancreatic cancer, was hospitalized for pneumonia.

"Patrick has asked that I tell you that he has checked himself into the hospital this morning for observation after coming down with pneumonia," said A&E president and general manager Robert
DeBitetto at an LA press event. "Chemo-therapy can take its toll on the immune system, and illnesses are a part of that. Patrick wishes me to tell you that he's very sorry he cannot attend, but he plans to get back to promoting The Beast soon. He thanks everybody for the outpouring of support. We hope to see him back on his feet soon."

In an interview on ABC on Wednesday, Swayze, 56, told Barbara Walters that he may not have long to live. "Two years seems likely if you're going to believe statistics," he said.

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