Alex Trebek isn’t just dealing with physical ailments as he battles pancreatic cancer.
In a new interview with ABC’s Michael Strahan, the Jeopardy! host revealed that some of the side effects of his illness are bouts of depression.
Admitting that receiving well-wishes from fans can make him especially emotional, the game show icon said:
“I don’t mind getting choked up. My oncologist told me one of the symptoms, if you will, of pancreatic cancer is that you get these moments of depression, sadness.”
Sounds extremely tough — and not just for Alex.
Video: Alex Fights Back Tears Over ‘Jeopardy!’ Contestant’s Final Response
Jean Trebek, the 79-year-old’s wife of 29 years, expressed to Strahan how frustrating it is to see her husband “in pain and I can’t help him.”
Alex went on to admit:
“It’s always tough for caretakers, because she has to deal with her worrying about my well-being and also dealing with… I’m not always the most pleasant person to be around when I’m experiencing severe pain or depression, and she has to tread lightly around me.”
Jean previously spoke on the precarious situation with SurvivorNet, telling the outlet that the key to taking care of Alex was making sure to stay positive herself.
She explained:
“It comes from a place of love, because I want to uplift him… and when I keep my own self buoyed and enjoying my life, I can actually share that with him. He can look at me and have a sense of ‘life is beautiful; my wife is doing something good.’”
Trebek first revealed his stage four pancreatic cancer diagnosis back in March. Looking back on the moment he found out the devastating news, he said to Strahan:
“I knew as soon as the doctor came back and mentioned the pancreas. I said, ‘Uh-oh, it’s going to be cancer.'”
The host’s cancer was in “near remission” earlier this year, but in September he revealed the disease had come back in full force, causing doctors to put him on chemotherapy again.
While it’s certainly been a tough road, his health battle has given Trebek — and his fans — a new perspective on life. He explained:
“I have learned something in the past year and it’s this: We don’t know when we’re going to die. Because of the cancer diagnosis, it’s no longer an open-ended life, it’s a closed-ended life because of the terrible … survival rates of pancreatic cancer. Because of that, and something else that is operating here, 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.”
And clearly he appreciates it!
Our hearts are with Alex and his loved ones as he continues to fight this terrible disease.
[Image via WENN]
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