From the moment he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a year ago, Patrick Swayze has defied the odds. Even on Jan. 9, when he checked himself into the hospital with pneumonia — possibly the result of a chemotherapy-weakened immune system — the cast and crew of his new A&E FBI drama, The Beast, seemed optimistic. "For him, I think it's just a bump in the road," said co-executive producer Vincent Angell that day.

No one is more hopeful than Patrick himself. In an interview that aired Jan. 7, the actor, 56, told ABC's Barbara Walters that although he hopes to live until there's a cure, he knows "two years seems likely."

And he intends to stay very busy, spending as much time as possible with his wife of 33 years, Lisa Niemi.

For more on Patrick's heroic battle against cancer, pick up the latest issue of Life & Style, on newsstands now!

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