Los Angeles, March 6 (DPA) Dirty Dancing star Patrick Swayze is battling pancreatic cancer and his doctors are confident of recovery according to US news reports Thursday.

A statement from Swayze's physician George Fisher was released after gossip magazines reported that Swayze had just weeks to live after being diagnosed with the potentially fatal disease.

'Patrick has a very limited amount of disease and he appears to be responding well to treatment thus far,' Fisher said. 'All of the reports stating the time frame of his prognosis and his physical side effects are absolutely untrue. We are considerably more optimistic.'

'Patrick Swayze has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is currently undergoing treatment,' Swayze's publicist Annett Wolf said. 'Patrick is continuing his normal schedule during this time, which includes working on upcoming projects.

'The outpouring of support and concern he has already received from the public is deeply appreciated by Patrick and his family.'

Swayze, 55, was recently cast as a gay cheerleading instructor in 'Fired Up', a big-screen comedy that began shooting last month. Swayze is best known for a string of hits in the 1980s and 1990s that included 'Ghost', 'Point Break', 'Road House' and 'Dirty Dancing'.