Jeopardy! Host Alex Trebek discusses “moments of depression” amid his battle against pancreatic cancer, stating that fans make him feel better.
In a recent interview with ABC’s Michael Strahan, Trebek and his wife, Jean, talked about how the illness has affected their lives.
Trebek said, “I don’t mind getting choked up. My oncologist told me one of the symptoms, if you will, of pancreatic cancer is that you get these moments of depression, sadness.”
The 79-year-old first revealed that he was battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer in March through a YouTube video clip. At the time, he said he realized that something is wrong and called his doctor after experiencing severe pain in the stomach.
Trebek told Strahan, “I knew as soon as the doctor came back and mentioned the pancreas. I said, ‘Uh-oh, it’s going to be cancer,’”
He immediately told Jean about his diagnosis. Jean said it is difficult to see Trebek “in pain and I can’t help him.”
His cancer went into remission a few month months ago. However, he was asked to undergo another session of chemo. He continues doing his work and he will be seen hosting Jeopardy! Next month.
Trebek said he remains realistic about his condition in spite of his busy schedule.
He said, “I have learned something in the past year and it’s this: We don’t know when we’re going to die.”
“Because of the cancer diagnosis, it’s no longer an open-ended life, it’s a closed-ended life because of the terrible … survival rates of pancreatic cancer.” “Because of that, and something else that is operating here, people all over America and abroad have decided they want to let me know now, while I’m alive, about the impact that I’ve been having on their existence,” he added.
