OH NO! Alex Trebek Reveals He Has Stage 4 Cancer!

Well, here is an answer to a question we never wanted to ask — what could stop Alex Trebek from hosting Jeopardy!? The answer, we now know, is nothing.

Not even a diagnosis of stage four cancer.

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As usual, the host is keeping a positive outlook despite the terrible news, as you can see in his announcement video (above).

Alex says with his trademark warm, professorial style:

“Just like fifty thousand other people in the United States each year, this week I was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. Now normally the prognosis for this is… not very encouraging. But I’m going to fight this. And I’m going to 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. “

Then, even in the face of this possible death sentence, Trebek proves he can still keep his sense of humor, quipping:

“Truth told, I have to because under the terms of my contract, I have to host Jeopardy! for three more years!”

Ha!

In all seriousness, sources tell TMZ Trebek plans to begin chemotherapy immediately but still intends to finish out the season.

He concludes by asking for continued fan support:

“So help me. Keep the faith. And we’ll win. We’ll get it done.”

What an unflappable spirit! He’s such a pro.

And no wonder! Trebek has been hosting the hit game show for 35 years!

The Ontario, Canada native started out in broadcast news on the Canadian Broadcasting Company way back in 1961 but found his true calling in trivia — on a high school quiz show called Reach for the Top in 1966.

In the 1970s, Trebek worked on less memorable game shows in the States like The Wizard of Odds, High Rollers, and Double Dare (no, not that one). In 1984 he got the job on the rebooted Jeopardy!, which had been hosted by Art Fleming in the ’60s and ’70s. And he’s been doing it ever since — and hopefully for years to come!

Memorably, Trebek took medical leave once before recently, in January of 2018, to undergo brain surgery after sustaining a head injury in a fall. And you know what? He came back just as strong, and filled with just as much knowledge. (OK, OK, he has the info written in front of him, but he really does know a LOT!)

Get well soon, Alex! What is… sending positive vibes!