In March, Alex Trebek revealed that he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic cancer and he was undergoing chemotherapy to beat it. In May, he said that his numbers were way down and doctors were hoping he was in remission. He spent the summer trying to rebuild his strength and regrow his hair. So much so, he was back at work on Jeopardy in July.
UPDATE: Alex Trebek gave this personal statement. He says that doctors are optimistic that chemo will work again last time. Let’s hope this time it sticks.
Things were looking good for the beloved talk show host. Then this morning he gave an update to Good Morning America and he has suffered a setback. He told T.J. Holmes, that in one week he lost 12 pounds and his numbers are higher than they were when he was first diagnosed. Therefore, he is undergoing a second round of chemo. Which is tiring him out and causing him to be in excruciating pain in his lower back. Yet, he has never missed a single day of work since he was diagnosed.
Does he plan on taking a break from the show? He says, “As long as I can walk out and greet the audience and the contestants and run the game, I’m happy.”
He is also at peace with the idea if he does not beat this disease. He said, “I realize that there is an end in sight for me, just as there is for everyone else. One line that I have used with our staff in recent weeks and months is that when I do pass on, one thing they will not say at my funeral is, ‘Oh, he was taken from us too soon.'” Then he added, “Hey guys. I’m 79-years-old. I’ve had one hell of a good life. And I’ve enjoyed it … the thought of passing on doesn’t frighten me, it doesn’t. Other things do, the affect it will have on my loved ones, yes, it bothers me. It makes me sad. But the thought of myself moving on, hey folks, it comes with the territory.”
In the interview, he said that he thinks of himself as a wuss because sometimes his emotions take over. To me, he is a stronger man than Samson with his hair and Trebek does not have any. We can all learn a lesson from his bravery. May Gd bless him with strength and may this round of chemo destroy those cancer cells.
