Alex Trebek has been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and is vowing to fight the disease.
The Canadian-born âJeopardy!â host made the statement in a
âNormally, the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but Iâm going to fight this, and Iâm going to keep working,â Trebek said in the video.
Trebek joked that he must remain host of âJeopardy!â in part because his contract requires him to continue his role for another three years. Trebek signed the contract last October.
The 78-year-old from Sudbury, Ont., has been the host of âJeopardy!â since 1984.
The City of Greater Sudburyâs Deputy Mayor Al Sizer said in an emailed statement that Trebek âholds a special place in the heartsâ of the those in his hometown.
âCertainly our whole community has Alex and his family in our thoughts and we are all behind him in his battle against cancer and know that heâs going to be a fighter,â Sizer wrote in the statement.
Trebek was given the Order of Canada in 2017 and joined the Canadian Walk of Fame in 2006.
Heâs won five Emmy awards and earned the Daytime Emmy Awardsâ Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.
the five-year survival rate for Stage 4 pancreatic cancer is just three per cent.
âWith 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,â Trebek said.
Stage 4 is the final stage of pancreatic cancer and generally means the disease has spread to other parts of the body, typically the liver, lungs or bones.
Trebek has had health problems before. In January 2018, he underwent surgery to correct some blood clots found on his brain and suffered a mild heart attack in 2012.
Both health scares did not impact the showâs broadcast schedule.
In 2011, Trebek snapped his Achilles tendon after chasing a woman who had allegedly stolen items from his hotel room. He hosted the National Geographic World Championship while on crutches later that day.
Trebekâs latest health problem has received a groundswell of support on social media.
âThe Sajak family is deeply saddened to hear of Alex Trebekâs struggle with cancer,â Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak âOur hearts go out to him and his family. But there is no one I know who is stronger and more determined, and I would never bet against him.â
The Sajak family is deeply saddened to hear of Alex Trebekâs struggle with cancer. Our hearts go out to him and his family. But there is no one I know who is stronger and more determined, and I would never bet against him. We, and the entire country, are pulling for you, Alex.
â Pat Sajak (@patsajak)
Ken Jennings, a former âJeopardy!â contestant and the showâs second-highest earner,âAlex is very aware of how much he means to millions of people, and how we will be pulling for him...I hope thatâs a comfort.â
: âIâm sure Iâm among many loyal (âJeopardy!â) viewers who are shocked by this news. To Alex Trebek: know that the prayers of millions of people around the world, including from my family, are with you as you face this challenge head-on.â
Iâm sure Iâm among many loyal viewers who are shocked by this news. To Alex Trebek: know that the prayers of millions of people around the world, including from my family, are with you as you face this challenge head-on. All the best.
â Andrew Scheer (@AndrewScheer)