Masha Fante
Longtime Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek made a video announcement Wednesday announcing that he has been diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer.
Trebek posted a video message announcing the news to the Jeopardy! Youtube channel. He stated that he did not want to see “inaccurate reports” about his health and that he plans to fight for as long as he can, despite the low survival rate statistics of the disease.
He finished the video joking that “I have to host Jeopardy! for three more years!”
Read his full statement below:
Hi everyone, I have some news to share with all of you and it’s in keeping with my longtime policy of being open and transparent with our Jeopardy! fan base.
I also wanted to prevent you from reading or hearing some overblown or inaccurate reports regarding my health. So therefore, I wanted to be the one to pass along this information.
Now, just like 50,000 other people in the United States each year, this week I was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Now normally, the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I’m going to fight this, and I’m going to keep working.
And 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.
Truth told, I have to! Because under the terms of my contract, I have to host Jeopardy! for three more years! So help me. Keep the faith and we’ll win. We’ll get it done. Thank you.
Fans were quick to offer messages of support and encouragement to Trebek across social media.
https://twitter.com/patsajak/status/1103418697270681600
Sending all my love, thoughts and prayers to Alex Trebek.
You are my hero. ❤️❤️🙏🙏pic.twitter.com/CcXhVtqUT8
— Ken Jeong (@kenjeong) March 6, 2019
In re: Alex Trebek: A dear friend of my wife's was diagnosed with the same illness in May of 2017. Same six-month prognosis. She attended our wedding a year later and we're seeing her again next month. Miracles do happen.
— @petersagal.bsky.social (@petersagal) March 6, 2019
alex trebek can have my pancreas. i'm not using this thing i don't even know what it does.
— bobby (@bobby) March 6, 2019
On the bright side, after seeing Alex Trebek sit through thousands of contestants’ boring anecdotes, I am convinced he can survive anything https://t.co/0pK4xE0AzV
— Chase Mitchell (@ChaseMit) March 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/pattymo/status/1103424654679687168
F cancer. Our thoughts are with Sudbury, Ont., native Alex Trebek: https://t.co/LbudNjwp4a
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) March 6, 2019
What is you’re not going anywhere
— Mike Drucker (@MikeDrucker) March 6, 2019
I’ve said this before but Alex Trebek is in a way the last Cronkite: authoritative, reassuring TV voice you hear every night, almost to the point of ritual.
— Ken Jennings (@KenJennings) March 6, 2019
i don’t even believe in god but i will pray for alex trebek
— Brandy Jensen (@BrandyLJensen) March 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/Adam_Jacobi/status/1103420283627687937
A classy, optimistic statement from Alex Trebek with trademark dry humor and wit. Difficult to deliver, but he did it with signature aplomb, in light of receiving news that he has stage 4 cancer.
— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) March 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/nwalks/status/1103420243744047111
Alex Trebek has been a voice of gentle intelligence in my ear since I was a baby. I hope he will be for many more years.
— Jessica Ellis (@baddestmamajama) March 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/HueyMack/status/1103416520971964417
https://twitter.com/chrisbharrison/status/1103417645313875968
https://twitter.com/JoyAnnReid/status/1103421584960831494
i can't even express how sad i am at this news https://t.co/44udt6eids
— b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) March 6, 2019
As the daughter of a man who is also battling stage 4 cancer with a low survival rate, know this, Mr. Trebek: you can beat the odds. You can overcome the obstacles. You can surpass all expectations. As a lifelong Jeopardy viewer, I wish you all the best.
— Katie Fisher (@katienelson210) March 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/owillis/status/1103418443167088640
h/t YouTube
