Alex Trebek Gets Candid About Cancer Setback, Resuming Chemo: “Embrace Life While You Have It”

On Tuesday, Jeopardy host Alex Trebek revealed that he is undergoing another round of treatment for stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

News of the setback came just a few weeks after the television icon announced that he had completed chemotherapy and was moving on to immunotherapy, telling fans “I’m on the mend, and that’s all I can hope for right now.”

Speaking with Good Morning America, Trebek said that after he lost about 12 pounds in a week and his numbers skyrocketed to levels much higher than when he was first diagnosed, his doctors decided that he should undergo chemo again.

“So that’s what I’m doing,” he said matter-of-factly.

Despite “excruciating pain,” fatigue, and obvious disappointment, the 79-year-old has continued to work, and remains candid about his condition.

“I try not to allow worrisome thoughts into my brain about what could happen,” he told ABC 13. “So, I’ll deal with whatever it is, when it happens.”

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Trebek, who has been public with his cancer battle from the start, said he hopes to be a positive influence on the countless people who have reached out to him, hoping to channel his impressive strength.

“What I tell them is the same thing I’ve been saying since day one: ‘Just make up your mind that you’re going to be a cancer survivor. Be optimistic. There are going to be bad days. And understand that you’ll deal with them. The don’t kill you right then.’”

“Try to be as positive as you can and relish the fact that you’ve had another day,” he continued. “That’s a pretty good deal. Whenever you can have another day to enjoy with your family, your friends, and your work environment.”

When asked about the recent death of Jeopardy champion Larry Martin to pancreatic cancer, Trebek appeared to hold back tears.

“It makes me more aware of the fragility of life and how very important it is to embrace life while you have it. Pray that you get to embrace it more and more.”