In March 2020, Alex Trebek shared a special message with viewers and fans of “Jeopardy!” At the time of the announcement, it had been exactly one year since Alex Trebek was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The host of the game show “Jeopardy!” had fought the good fight and beaten the odds to survive one year since being diagnosed. There is only an 18% survival rate for the first year, and Trebek made it into that 18%. 

Trebek released a video where he made the announcement that it had been exactly one year since he was diagnosed. He also went on to explain that it had not been an easy journey.

“There were moments of great pain, days when certain bodily functions no longer functioned and sudden massive attacks of great depression that made me wonder if it really was worth fighting on.”

Through it all, Trebek didn’t give in to depression. He fought on. He said giving up would have been a “betrayal” to his wife and to all the fans who prayed for him. 

“But I brushed that aside quickly because that would have been a massive betrayal, a betrayal of my wife and soulmate, Jean, who has given her all to help me survive. It would have been a betrayal of other cancer patients, who have looked to me as an inspiration, and a cheerleader of sorts, of the value of living and hope. And it would certainly have been a betrayal of my faith in God and the millions of prayers that have been said on my behalf.”

There is only a 7% chance of survival for the 2nd year, but Trebek’s doctor gave him hope. 

“You know, my oncologist tried to cheer me up the other day. He said, ‘Alex, even though the two-year survival rate is only seven percent,’ he was certain that one year from now the two of us would be sitting in his office, celebrating my second anniversary of survival.”

Watch the video below to look back at the message Trebek shared with viewers on the 1-year anniversary of being diagnosed with cancer.