HOLLYWOOD—Television host Alex Trebek passed away on Sunday, November 8 at the age of 80 years. The Canadian-born host, has held duties for the syndicated game show “Jeopardy!” for more than 30 years. The host was surrounded by family and friends during his final moments.
Trebek first announced he was diagnosed with stage IV Pancreatic Cancer in March 2019. In October 2019, the host announced in a PSA partnership with World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition’s (WPCC). The WPCC is composed of 80 different organizations located in 30 different countries and six continents.
“I wish I had known sooner that the persistent stomach pain I experienced prior to my diagnosis was a symptom of pancreatic cancer,” Trebek said in the PSA. He added, “participate this November by wearing purple, spreading the word on social media and visiting worldpancreaticcancerday.org.”
The PSA was designed to encourage people to learn the warning factors and symptoms of detecting pancreatic cancer in its early stages. Pancreatic cancer has a single digit five-year survival rate.
“Other common symptoms of pancreatic cancer are mid back pains, unexplained weight loss, new onset diabetes, and the yellowing of the skin or eyes. Wont you join me in this fight. Together we can get it done,” said Trebek.
In March 2020, Trebek beat the one-year survival rate for stage IV pancreatic cancer, being 18 percent of individuals who survive after being diagnosed.
“Because it is so often symptomless until it reaches an advanced stage, pancreatic cancer has a high fatality rate. According to the American Cancer Society, about 57,600 Americans will be diagnosed with the disease in 2020, and the illness is expected to claim over 47,000 lives,” stated WebMD.
The television host has been with the series since 1984. He has hosted 8,000 episodes, setting the Guinness World Record for “most gameshow episodes hosted by the same presenter.” He earned six Daytime Emmy Awards and and one lifetime achievement Emmy award during his career.