‘Jeopardy!’ Host Alex Trebek Gives Health Update One Year After His Cancer Announcement

One year after he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek posted a personal video about his health to his fans.

Noting the one-year survival rate of stage 4 pancreatic cancer was 18%, Trek announced, “I’m very happy to report I have just reached that marker.”

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“Now, I’d be lying if I said the journey had been an easy one. There were some good days but a lot of not-so-good days,” he admitted. “I joked with friends that the cancer won’t kill me, the chemo treatments will.”

The longtime TV personality then detailed his suffering, remarking, “There were moments of great pain, days when certain bodily functions no longer functioned, and sudden, massive attacks of great depression that made me wonder if it really was worth fighting on.”

Trebek reassured fans that he quickly disregarded the negative thoughts, noting they would have been “a massive betrayal” to his wife, Jean, and the many cancer patients who look up to him for inspiration and to his personal beliefs.

“If we take it just one day at a time with a positive attitude, anything is possible,” Trebek concluded the video.

Last year March, Trebek announced that he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The beloved TV show host has had some health issues over the years. In December of 2007 he suffered a minor heart attack in his home and in 2011 he injured his Achilles tendon while chasing a burglar from his home. He suffered another mild heart attack in June 2012 and in January 2018 suffered a fall in his home.

Following his cancer diagnosis however, Trebek promised to fight and beat the disease saying, “with the love and support of my family and friends, and with the help of your prayers also, I plan to beat the low survival rate statistics for this disease.”