“There comes a time when you have to make a decision about whether you want to continue with such a low quality of life.”
Alex Trebek said he will suspend his cancer treatment if the current round fails.
In an interview with “The New York Times,” the former host of “Jeopardy” gave an update on his battle with pancreatic cancer after being diagnosed at Stage 4 in March 2019.
“Yesterday morning, my wife came to me and said, ‘How are you feeling?’ And I said, ‘I feel like I want to die,’ “said Trebeck, 79. “It was so bad. There comes a time when you have to make a decision about whether you want to continue with such a low quality of life, or if you just want to go to the next level. It doesn’t bother me in the least.”
According to Trebek, his recent work recording new introductions to old episodes of “Jeopardy” has provided some relief.
“Interestingly, when we started recording, I suddenly started to regain my strength,” he explained. “It is the strangest thing. It is a kind of elixir.”
But he said he will be ready to stop the cameras if his performance begins to decline due to illness.
“It is a quality program and I think I do a good job as a host, and when it starts to slip, I will stop hosting,” he said.
In a YouTube video released Thursday, Trebek let fans know how he had been dealing with the disease in quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Alex Trebek says he’s ‘rehearsed’ Final Danger Speech, replacement talks
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“I am doing well. I have continued my treatment and it is giving results, although I am very tired,” he explained. “My numbers are good. I feel great.”
He even kept his signature style of humor while joking about facial hair growth while waiting to re-record new episodes of “Jeopardy”.
During the short clip, Trebek also revealed that he took the time during quarantine to write a memoir called “The Answer Is … Reflections on My Life.”
When asked by the New York Times what made him decide to write his life story, Trebek again showed his wit.
“They offered me a good amount of money,” he said.
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