Alex Trebek was thrilled as he discussed his ongoing battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, his family’s reaction, and his future as host of “Danger!”
The longtime host sat down for an interview with “Good Morning America” on Monday to promote his upcoming memoirs. “The answer is …: Reflections on my life.” During the interview, he spoke frankly about both his treatment and his desire to return to work on the program, whose production was halted in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It sure would be nice to go back to work,” said the host, who turns 80 this week. “I miss her. She’s been a part of my life, a very important part of my life for 36 years.”
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However, in light of his ongoing diagnosis and treatment, questions have been raised about how long Trebek can continue to host the popular game show. Fortunately for fans, she explained that she has every intention of working as long as she can reasonably.
“It is something that I cannot explain intellectually. At the intestinal level, without even thinking about it, it just happens, I suddenly wake up and I am able to act and manage the show, ”he explained. “Because I like it … it’s a good job.”
Alex Trebek gave fans an update on his battle with cancer.
(Getty)
In another part of the interview, he added: “My doctor told me he is counting on me, that he celebrates two years of survival after the diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and that two years occur in February. So I hope to be close because he said, I will be close and I hope to be the host of the program if I am close. “
Although Trebek says his doctors have told him he is “going in the right direction” with his health, he previously told the New York Times that he does not plan to continue treatment if his last round of chemotherapy fails. Speaking to “GMA”, he explained that the experience has been very demanding for both him and his family, which has raised concerns about his “quality of life.”
“There was a day a few weeks ago when Jeannie asked me in the morning, how are you feeling? And I said, ‘I feel like I want to die.’ It was so bad, “she confessed.
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When host TJ Holmes asked how Trebek’s wife of more than three decades responded to that, he notes that he immediately apologized.
Alex Trebek spoke about his wife’s role in his current battle with cancer.
(Michael Kovac / Getty Images for AFI)
“I apologize and explain that it has nothing to do with my love for her or my feelings for her,” he said. “It just has to do with the fact that I feel like I’m a terrible burden on her. And that bothers me enormously. “
Drowning, she continued: “She says you are not a burden. She is a saint, but she has so much goodness in her that she always gives up. Always looking to help me overcome difficult times. And there have been some difficult times. And I … I’m amazed at the way she handles it.
As for the rest of his family, Trebek said the conversation about the possible interruption of treatment was difficult to maintain.
“They understand that there is a certain element to the quality of life and if the quality of life is not there, sometimes it’s hard to push and say, ‘well, I’m going to keep going even if it’s miserable.'” He explained.
Trebek has been frankly candid about his treatment since he announced the diagnosis in March 2019. The journey thus far has been one of several ups and downs, with the host preparing fans for a potential situation where he cannot continue to host ” Danger!”
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“There have been difficult moments and I don’t know what it is about. But when it’s time to go, it’s time to go. Let’s do it. Get out there. Suck it. Make it happen, “he shared on” GMA. “
