Alex Trebek reveals he's undergoing another round of chemotherapy: 'I'm still here'
Alex Trebek is going through another round of chemotherapy.
The Jeopardy! host’s announcement was aired on Good Morning America on Tuesday morning where he revealed that although the first round of treatment for his stage 4 pancreatic cancer was successful, the immunotherapy that followed was not.
“I was doing so well. And my numbers went down to the equivalent of a normal human being who does not have pancreatic cancer. So we were all very optimistic. And they said, 'Good, we're gonna stop chemo, we'll start you on immunotherapy,” Trebek told ABC News’ T.J. Holmes. “I lost about 12 pounds in a week. And my numbers went sky high, much higher than they were when I was first diagnosed. So, the doctors have decided that I have to undergo chemo again and that's what I'm doing.”
The second round of treatment comes just six months after Trebek first announced his diagnosis. And although he has yet to miss a day of work throughout the emotional and physically draining process, he does admit that the cancer has taken a toll. “It has different effects on you,” he explained. “Occasionally it will cause excruciating pain in my lower back, other times it’s fatigue, other times it’s nausea. It varies. Cancer is mysterious in more ways than one.”
Still, the television host is remaining optimistic about this upcoming chemotherapy regardless of the outcome, and will continue to do his job.
“As long as I can walk out and greet the audience and the contestants, and run the game, I’m happy,” he said. “I’m 79 years old, I’ve had one hell of a good life, and I’ve enjoyed it and the thought of passing on doesn’t frighten me.”
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