Patrick Swayze's physical fightness gives him new hope in cancer fight

Patrick Swayze's years of physical training may be the secret weapon in his fighting against cancer, it has emerged.

The 55-year old 'Dirty Dancing' star -- who revealed he was receiving treatment for pancreatic cancer earlier this month -- has been given new hope after finding out that the drug he's taking to tackle his illness responds better to people who are physically fit.

Dr. M. Wasif Saif, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Gastrointestinal Program at Yale Universtiy, said: "The drug that Patrick Swayze is taking, Vatalanib, is still in the experimental stage.

"But recent studies have shown promise for patients taking the drug who are in excellent physical shape."

The actor's strength comes from years of horse riding and his dance training at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York. East Valley Feed and Tack owner, John Fusano tells OK! magazine, "Patrick orders supplies for his horses from us. I haven't seen him in a while, but he's a strapping giant of a man. He's got tree trunks for legs!"