Swayze checks out of hospital, publicist says

[January 17, 2009]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Patrick Swayze has been released from the hospital one week after checking himself in with pneumonia, his publicist said Friday.

Publicist Annett Wolf would not elaborate on the actor's condition but told The Associated Press he "is well enough to have been released." He is now resting at his Los Angeles home, Wolf said.

Swayze, who has battled pancreatic cancer for the last year, checked himself into a hospital Jan. 9 for observation after contracting pneumonia.

The 56-year-old announced last March he was suffering from a particularly deadly form of cancer. Some reports gave him only weeks to live, but his doctor said his situation was more optimistic.

Swayze told ABC's Barbara Walters last week that his battle with cancer put him "through hell" while he pushed ahead on a new TV series.

Swayze had been working on a drama series "The Beast," which premiered this week on the A&E network. Producers have said they found out Swayze had cancer four hours after learning A&E had picked up the series. They also said filming was completed on all episodes of the first season and hoped Swayze could continue in the role for a second season.

In the series, he plays an FBI veteran who trains a rookie partner played by Travis Fimmel.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.