Alex Trebek: 'It's Part Of Life'

Alex Trebek did not view his pancreatic cancer diagnosis early in 2019 as particularly devastating, he told ABCs Michael Strahan in a recent interview.

"I just look at it as, it's part of life," Trebek told Strahan, per a USA Today article. "Does that mean I'm courageous because I'm dealing with it? No, I could be scared to death, and I'd still have to deal with it."

He noted that his perspective about the cancer diagnosis caused him to not share news of the diagnosis as quickly as possible with his wife of 29 years, Jean. For her part, Jean Trebek said that the toughest part about dealing with Alex Trebek's cancer diagnosis was seeing him in pain - or when he chose to drink diet soda, an admission that the beloved Jeopardy! host scoffed at jokingly when Strahan looked puzzled.

"Back off Michael… I'm 79," Trebek said, according to USA Today. "If you get to be 79 and be in as good as shape as I – wait a minute, I'm not in a great shape."

There has been an outpouring of support for Trebek during his Stage IV pancreatic cancer battle, and the game show host has garnered particular praise for his honesty in dealing with the disease fairly publicly. When he was initially diagnosed, he shared the news via a video that went viral on the Jeopardy! Twitter feed and on YouTube, and Trebek has continued to share his progress and setbacks with the disease in the same fashion since last year's diagnosis.

Trebek's openness in discussing the challenges beyond chemotherapy has also gained some attention. Trebek has discussed his occasional struggles with depression while battling cancer, but has praised the Jeopardy! fans for supporting him and keeping him buoyant in what is a particularly emotionally painful fight.

"People all over America and abroad have decided they want to let me know now, while I'm alive, about the impact that I've been having on their existence," he said. "They have come out, and they have told me and, my gosh, it makes me feel so good."

Writer Gene Seymour referred to Trebek as "the most trusted man in television since Walter Cronkite" in a CNN opinion piece in October 2019, describing a world without Alex Trebek as being akin to suddenly not having indoor plumbing or sunlight. Really, Trebek has always been that reliable, and even when he was on hiatus for a subdural hematoma back in 2018, his hosting schedule was unaffected, as Jeopardy! tapes months in advance. In his 35-year Jeopardy! run, he's snapped his Achilles tendon, suffered two heart attacks, had a subdural hematoma and is currently battling cancer, and he's apparently never missed a show.

Given Trebek is 79, it's inevitable that there will one day be a Jeopardy! without his calming, assured presence at the helm. However, we can only hope that the positive energy we're all continuing to send him will help in his continued battle against pancreatic cancer so that he can continue to host the long-running show on his terms and enjoy it.

Best wishes, Alex.