Patrick Swayze's widow, Lisa Niemi, has spoken to television's talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey less than three months after her husband's death.

In her first television interview, Lisa opened up about losing her husband, the star of Dirty Dancing and Ghost, who died on September 14 this year, after a 22-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

The 53-year-old widow told Oprah she knew her 57-year-old husband would have wanted her to go on with her life.

"I had a moment where I thought, 'If I was really courageous I would be open to the possibility that I would go on in life'," Lisa told the talk-show host.

"I've been really blessed to have a man who has always believed in me and thought I was smart and beautiful and good … All these wonderful things. And I hope that I can continue to prove that he was right about me."

Throughout the heart-felt tearful interview, Lisa revealed how she reacted to the "horrible news" of Patrick's illness, how she dealt with the ordeal and who she turned to for support during his 22-month illness.

Lisa said that during Patrick's illness the pair, who had been married for 34 years, spoke about heaven, but tried to remain positive by not speaking too often about death.

Before Patrick's death, the pair co-wrote a book, Time of My Life, in which they share the highs and lows of their marriage, including details of their year-long separation.