Swayze says he may only have two years left to live

(REUTERS)

The actor Patrick Swayze, in his first television interview since being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year, said he was scared, angry and "going through hell" and may only have two years to live.

The Dirty Dancing actor said he has already defied survival rates and reports predicting he should have "been dead a long time". But he acknowledged his time may be short.

"I'd say five years is pretty wishful thinking. Two years seems likely if you're going to believe statistics. I want to last until they find a cure, which means I'd better get a fire under it."

The American Cancer Society says pancreatic cancer has only a five per cent, five-year survival rate. Most patients die within six months.

"You can bet I'm going through hell," Swayze, 56, said. "But am I dying? Am I giving up? Am I on my death bed? Am I saying goodbye to people? No way."