Jeopardy! Host Alex Trebek Announces Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis

Published on March 7, 2019.

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Beloved Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

The 78-year-old shared the somber news in a video message to viewers on Wednesday, March 6, and somehow managed to even add a little humor into his message.

“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 fanbase. I also wanted to prevent you from reading or hearing some overblown or inaccurate reports regarding my health,” he began.

He continued, “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 gonna fight this and I’m gonna 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.”

He then joked, “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.”

The beloved TV show host has had some health issues over the years. In December of 2007 he suffered a minor heart attack in his home and in 2011 he injured his Achilles tendon while chasing a burglar from his home. He suffered another mild heart attack in June 2012 and in January 2018 suffered a fall in his home.

Trebek has hosted Jeopardy! since it was revived in 1984 and has hosted another number of game shows over the years.