Alex Trebek Says If Present Treatment Fails He Won't Go To 'Extraordinary Measures' To Survive

Jul 22, 2020 by apost team

The beloved host of Jeopardy!, Alex Trebek first shared his cancer diagnosis with the world in March 2019. Fans were quick to express their support of Trebek, who is battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

A recent interview with Good Morning America highlighted Alex's cancer treatment journey, why he'll continue working on Jeopardy! as long as he can, and that he won't be going to any extreme measures if his current cancer treatment doesn't work.

In an interview with ABC News' T.J. Holmes that aired on Good Morning America on Monday, July 20, Trebek expressed his gratitude to the outpouring of support he's received from fans and discussed why he was interested in opening up. He said:

“I’ve received so many expressions of love and so many prayers said on my behalf—since the diagnosis was made public that I thought, ‘Well, maybe—maybe the people would care to learn something about me.”

In speaking about the ups and downs of his cancer diagnosis and treatment, Alex mentioned one particularly low moment, however with the help of his wife Jean, he's had the utmost support:

“There was one day a few weeks ago when Jeanie asked me in the morning, ‘How do you feel?’ And I said, ‘I feel like I wanna die.’ It was that bad. I apologize to her and explain that it has nothing to do with my love for her or my feelings for her. It just has to do with the fact that I feel like I’m a terrible burden to her. And that bothers me tremendously.”

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Alex, who is 23 years Jean's senior, met his wife in 1988 before they were married in 1990. They share two children together and are both homebodies who love to watch movies in bed together. He called Jean a "saint" in the interview with GMA, adding:

“She has so much goodness in her that she is always giving out, always putting out to help me get over difficult moments. And there have been some difficult moments. I’m just in awe of the way she handles it.”

The 79-year-old Jeopardy! host is receiving experimental immunotherapy treatment for his pancreatic cancer, under good faith from his doctor that he still has more time. 

“My doctor has told me that he is counting on me celebrating two years of survivorship past the diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer. And that two years happens in February. So I expect to be around ’cause he said I will be around. And I expect to be hosting the show if I am around.”

Despite the positive outlook, Trebek is also realistic. He's spoken with his family saying that he's "not going to go to any extraordinary measures to ensure my survival." He added:

"They understand that there is a certain element regarding quality of life and if the quality of life is not there—it’s hard sometimes to push and just say, ‘Well, I’m gonna keep going even though I’m miserable.'"

But until then, Trebek is determined to continue working on Jeopardy! as long as he can. “It’s something that I can’t explain intellectually. At a gut level, without even thinking about it, it just happens. I suddenly wake up and I’m able to perform and handle the show because I like it. It’s a good job.”

We wish Alex all the best in his ongoing battle with pancreatic cancer and hope to see more of him doing what he loves, hosting his show.

Are you a Jeopardy! fan? Let us know your favorite moments of Alex Trebek in the comments down below, then pass this story on to your friends and family who are also fans.