Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek releases a one-year video update on his pancreatic cancer battle. Trebek’s impeccable hosting skills have graced the trivia game show for 36 seasons and more than 8,000 episodes. Winner of six Emmys for Outstanding Game Show Host, the 79-year-old has been the face of Jeopardy! since it debuted in 1984. Considered one of the most recognized television personalities of all time, Trebek has appeared, as himself, in a slew of TV shows including The X-Files, Jack Ryan, and Orange Is the New Black.
One year ago, Trebek shocked the nation when he revealed in a video message that he’d been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The survival rate for this particular strand of cancer is nine percent - the highest mortality rate of all cancers. Unrelentingly, Trebek continued his Jeopardy! hosting duties and remained optimistic while enduring the side effects of weight loss, fatigue, and thinning hair. Amid rumors of Jeopardy! seeking a replacement for Trebek, the trivia show became the talk of the town with the rise of Jeopardy! star James Holzhauer and the riveting Tournament of Champions. Earlier this year, over 14 million viewers tuned in to watch Trebek helm the Jeopardy!: Greatest of All Time tournament, which crowned former champion Ken Jennings as the winner. Recently, Trebek revealed his final 30 seconds of Jeopardy! have already been rehearsed.
Officially marking the one-year anniversary of his Trebek's cancer diagnosis announcement, the Jeopardy! host offers the nation an update on his prognosis. As it stands, the survival rate for the first year of stage 4 pancreatic cancer is 18 percent. Following suit with his former announcements, Trebek reveals in a video that he’s pleased to announce he is now one of the 18 percent of patients to survive the first year. Fighting the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in America, Trebek admits that depression plagued him as much as the illness did and states, “There were some good days, but a lot of not so good days. I joked with my friends that cancer won’t kill me, the chemo treatments will.” Check out Trebek’s announcement video from Jeopardy! below:
Trebek admits that the journey has not been easy, but he remains optimistic that he can defy the odds and be among the seven percent of patients who reach the two-year mark. Displaying his iconic gentle professionalism, the beloved host reassures his audience by stating, “If we take it just one day at a time, with a positive attitude, anything is possible.” Trebek confirms his cancer is not in remission but solidifies that he will continue to fight and keep the nation updated.
Deemed far more than a game show host, Trebek has had a profound impact on audience members, contestants, and fans. The host’s dignified, pointed, and kind-hearted appearance is why so many have welcomed him into their homes. Trebek has remained open and brutally honest about the physical and emotional toll of chemotherapy. It's still unclear who will fill his large shoes as the new host of Jeopardy!, but it is a relief that Trebek is still here one year after his prognosis. As it stands, fans can still tune in to watch Trebek’s legacy continue behind the podium of Jeopardy!
Source: Jeopardy