It's been a year since actor Patrick Swayze started his treatment for pancreatic cancer -- and the actor said he's not about to give up fighting now.

In an exclusive interview with ABC's Barbara Walters that airs this week, Swayze admitted that he's "scared" and "angry," but also promises to fight his pancreatic cancer.

"I've never been one to run from a challenge," Swayze told Walters.

The "Dirty Dancing" star has worked 12-hour days and had chemo sessions on the weekend while filming his new television series "The Beast," which premieres next week on A&E.

In five months, he missed just a day and a half of work.

"You can bet that I'm going through hell," Swayze said. "And I've only seen the beginning of it."

In the interview, Swayze, 56, said that he's aware of the grim statistics for patients fighting pancreatic cancer, but he's holding out hope.

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