Patrick Swayze Fights Cancer With Wife's Support

'I Can Keep Going'

Niemi told Walters her one regret is that the couple never had children. "If you ask, well, why or why not, I don't know, just life happened," she said. "But how can I complain, because I certainly have enormous riches in my life."

Actor Patrick Swayze sat down for an interview -- and stood up for a dance -- with Barbara Walters. Swayze spoke openly about his yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer.

(Ron Tom/ABC)
More Photos

Still, Niemi has struggled to cope with her husband's illness.

"I've got a lot of strength, but as a friend once said, you're really strong, but you're weak when it comes to him. It's the first time in my life I said, 'I can't do this, I can't do it.' And somehow, you find a way of coming to terms with it. One of the best ways of getting through that is to open your eyes and appreciate what you do have."

Niemi has yet to face the prospect of life without her husband. "I can't help but wonder how I'd be able to do that. And I think that, you know, I'm just gonna figure that out when I get there."

Swayze insists he doesn't want to be the poster boy for living with cancer, but like it or not, his stubborn refusal to let cancer alter his life has become an inspiration. He has received thousands of letters from around the world offering advice and encouragement.

"The outpouring of love has, has constantly astounded me," Swayze said.

Swayze said the illness has made him think more about the afterlife.

Related

WATCH: 'View' on Swayze's Fight to Survive

Swayze Plans to Act Through His Cancer

WATCH: Whoopi: Patrick Swayze 'Is Not Dying'

"I don't know what's on the other side," he said. "It tests everything I believe in … that here is something unique in all of us that does not, does not die."

Swayze said he talks to his father, who died before the actor became famous.

"I like to believe that I've got a lot of guardian warriors sitting on my shoulder, including my dad, saying, 'You just let Swayze dog know it's been his turn all this time. You just let us do the work and we'll finish it for him.' And so, I'm trying to shut up and let my angels speak to me and, and tell me what I'm supposed to do."

"What winning is to me is not giving up, is no matter what's thrown at me, I can take it," Swayze said. "And I can keep going."

For more information about pancreatic cancer, visit:

The Pancreatic Cancer Network

The Pancreas Center at Columbia University Medical Center

The National Cancer Institute's Pancreas Site

The Lustgarten Foundation