A year after his death, Swayze still inspires

Patrick Swayze, who fought to remain active and acting during his fatal bout with pancreatic cancer, continues to inspire a year after his death at 57.

Jennifer Grey, his co-star in "Dirty Dancing," credits the actor, who died a year ago Tuesday, with giving her the courage to appear on "Dancing With the Stars" - and to reveal her own cancer scare.

"Patrick was one of the most fearless people I've ever met," Grey, 50, told "Access Hollywood." "[He] . . . was all about going for it."

Grey's doctor advised her against joining the "Dancing" cast due to injuries from a 1987 car accident. "[He said] 'You can't do that, Jen; you'll get paralyzed if you fall . . . you need to fuse your neck.' "

During preparatory tests, her surgeon found a lump that proved to be thyroid cancer. She eventually had her thyroid removed.