Cancer sufferer Patrick Swayze is fighting back after recent tabloid photos suggested he was gravely ill with a new picture of his own. The Ghost star and his wife Lisa Niemi posed with their dogs for a professional snap on their New Mexico ranch last week and the photograph has been released to assure fans the actor is alive and well.

In the shot, a smiling Swayze wears western attire and appears to be in much better shape than recent tabloid stories and pictures suggest.

Swayze's representative reveals the photo was taken as the actor and his wife played host to friends at their ranch.

The photo was released to the media as new rumors of Swayze's death started circulating on Tuesday morning.

Image © © Janet Mayer / Photorazzi

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)