Alex Trebek Gives Fans Update On Cancer Treatment Ahead Of His 80th Birthday

Jul 17, 2020 by apost team

Ahead of his 80th birthday next week, Jeopardy! game show host Alex Trebek took to social media on July 16 to provide his fans with an update on his health and the future of the show. Last year, Trebek announced in a video that doctors had diagnosed him with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

In his most recent announcement, which the host made six days before his birthday, Trebek said he remained optimistic about his cancer treatment while also taking the opportunity to announce that, in lieu of new episodes of the show, Jeopardy! will reach into the “vaults” and broadcast old episodes for the first time ever, which will include the game show’s very first episode.

Regarding his health, the soon to be 80-year-old host was also upbeat and said that he is “doing well.”

apost.com

"I'm doing well. I've been continuing my treatment, and it is paying off, though it does fatigue me a great deal. My numbers are good, I'm feeling great," Trebek said.

The good news and Trebek's positive attitude comes after a more somber announcement this March, a year out from when Trebek first announced his cancer diagnosis in 2019. At that time, the host spoke of “moments of great pain, days when certain bodily functions no longer functioned” and “massive attacks of great depression.”

Compared to the March announcement, Thursday’s update was more lighthearted. Trebek even joked about his new facial hair while speaking to the game show’s future in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

"As many of you know, whenever there's a break in our Jeopardy! tape schedule, I often take that opportunity to grow some facial hair,'' Trebek said in the video. "Clearly I've been doing that while waiting for us to safely return to the studio, which I hope will be very, very soon. Now, in the meantime, I'm here at home recording show openings from some very special Jeopardy! episodes that will be coming up in July."

An announcement on the show’s website provided more information on what will be a 4-week television special. According to the announcement, Jeopardy! producers sorted through 8,000 episodes over 36 seasons, settling on 20 past episodes that will “highlight key moments” from the show. The 4-week special will begin on Monday, July 20 by airing the first episode of Jeopardy! ever, which means Trebek’s 1980s mustache will make a comeback.

And for Jeopardy! die-hards, the game show host had even more good news. Trebek reminded viewers that his new memoir, The Answer Is…Reflections on My Life, is coming out on July 21, a day after the show’s 4-week special begins and the day before he turns 80 years old.

"I want people to know a little more about the person they have been cheering on for the past year,” Trebek wrote in an excerpt from the new book shared by publisher Simon & Schuster on their website.

Are you excited for Jeopardy!'s 4-week special next month? Do you remember those earlier episodes with Trebek? Let us know and pass this good news on to friends, family members, and Jeopardy! fans.