Alex Trebek Revealed There May Be A Point Where He Has To Leave Jeopardy! Amid Cancer Battle

Published on October 8, 2019.

Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images

Longtime Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek has been bravely fighting stage 4 pancreatic cancer for over six months now, and has been determined to never miss a day of hosting, but now he is opening up about the reality of possibly having to leave the show as he undergoes treatments.

The 79-year-old opened up to CTV News about how his treatment has impacted his life, and recently revealed that he has to undergo chemo once again after his numbers spiked despite a previous incredible improvement in his condition.

“I’m not afraid of dying,” he said. “I’ve lived a good life, a full life, and I’m nearing the end of that life … if it happens, why should I be afraid that?”

“There are weaknesses I feel in my body but I can always suck it up when it comes to tape the show,” he added.

However, he did reveal that he will only host as long as his skills do not start to falter. “I will keep doing it as long as my skills do not diminish, and they have started to diminish,” Trebek said, explaining that sores in his mouth from the treatment have made it difficult for him to enunciate.

“I’m sure there are observant members of the television audience that notice also, but they’re forgiving,” he said. “But there will come a point when [fans and producers] will no longer be able to say, ‘It’s okay.’”

Despite having to undergo treatments yet again, Trebek said, “I’m hanging in. So we’re back on the chemo and we’ll see if the numbers go down. And if they do … they can’t keep doing [chemo] forever of course.”