New reports suggest that Patrick Swayze may have started showing symptoms of pancreatic cancer in December.

As Entertainmentwise reported, Patrick’s doctor has confirmed tabloid reports that the Ghost star is suffering from the disease but denies claims he only has five weeks to live.

It has since emerged the actor may have first shown signs of what is one of the deadliest forms of cancer at Christmas, but thought he was suffering a bout of gastroenteritis.

Whilst filming the pilot for forthcoming TV series The Beast, in which he plays an FBI agent, a source says: "Patrick began spitting up blood and was taken to the hospital.”

Following his diagnosis in January, Patrick is said to have undergone radical chemotherapy at Stanford University Medical Centre, a prestigious cancer hospital in California.

The actor continues to work on upcoming TV and film projects.