Alex Trebek, who has long been considered one of America’s national treasures when it comes to game shows, made a sobering announcement this week. The “Jeopardy!” host shared that he has stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

In a video posted on social media, Trebek stated that he wanted us to hear the news straight from him first. The 78-year-old plans on fighting the disease, joking that he has to because his contract isn’t up for another three years.

The beloved host has been with the show since 1984, and many viewers have grown up watching him each week. Trebek was forthright, noting that typically, pancreatic cancer survival rates are not high. Most diagnoses of this cancer type occur in adults over the age of 65, and the five-year mortality rate is just 7%.

During his career, Trebek has won five Daytime Emmys and earned a lifetime achievement award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He’s also been inducted into two halls of fame for his work in broadcasting.

Nothing but love is pouring in for Trebek, and as he mentions in his video, he is counting on support from family, friends, and fans to help him in his battle. You can hear an excerpt of his announcement by watching the news clip below.

How long have you been a fan of this gentleman? Were you already aware of his diagnosis? Can you relate to Alex Trebek’s fight?