Alex Trebek Undergoing Another Round Of Chemotherapy After His 'Numbers Went Sky-High'

Alex Trebek has shared a sad update about his pancreatic cancer journey.

On Tuesday’s episode of Good Morning America, the 79-year-old revealed in a taped interview he’s preparing for another round of chemotherapy following his March cancer diagnosis. Previously, the Jeopardy! host finished his treatment and was “doing so well,” so this latest news came as a surprise as Trebek was “near remission” in May.

Alex shared with T.J. Holmes:

“My hair started to grow back, but now I have to undergo chemo again, so what little hair I have grown is going to disappear again. In terms of getting my strength back, that hasn’t happened unfortunately. I lost about 12 pounds in a week and my numbers went sky-high. Much higher than they were when I was first diagnosed. So the doctors have decided that I have to undergo chemo again and that’s what I am doing.”

Unfortunately, the optimism after completing his last round of treatment where his “numbers went down to the equivalent of a normal human being who does not have pancreatic cancer,” didn’t last long.

While Alex doesn’t “feel terrible” and gets “the most optimism” from his ability to still fight the disease, it doesn’t overshadow the negative effect of what he’s going through:

“It has different effects on you for some reason, and I don’t understand why. Occasionally it will cause excruciating pain in my lower back. Other times it’s fatigue. Other times it’s nausea. It varies. Cancer is mysterious in more ways than one. I am still a bit of a wuss because there are moments when, for no reason at all, I feel this surge of sadness, depression. It does’t last very long, but it just takes over my whole being for a short period of time.”

The longtime host continued, sharing with ABC News:

“I understand it more now, so I can deal with it a lot better than I did before. When it happened early on I was down on myself. I said, ‘Hey, you shouldn’t be reacting this way.’ I didn’t realize how fallible each of us is in his or her own way. I just experience it. I know it is part of who I am and I am going to just keep going.”

While he is doing his best to remain positive, some aspects of his current struggles do “bother” him:

“I realize that there is an end in sight for me, just as there is for everyone else. One line that I have used with our staff in recent weeks and months is that when I do pass on, one thing they will not say at my funeral is, ‘Oh, he was taken from us too soon.’ Hey guys, I’m 79 years old. I’ve had one hell of a good life and I’ve enjoyed it.”

Kinda morbid, but it seems like he has a good outlook on things. Such a pro! Trebek continued (below):

“The thought of passing on doesn’t frighten me. It doesn’t. Other things do. The effect it will have on my loved ones. Yes, that bothers me and makes me sad. But the thought of myself moving on, hey folks, it comes with the territory.”

But don’t expect him to go anywhere anytime soon! The Ontario, Canada native is focusing on his health, and isn’t planning to put his work on the show aside:

“As long as I can walk out and greet the audience and the contestants and run the game, I am happy.”

Watch the full video here:

Alex Trebek reveals to @tjholmes he will need to undergo another round of chemotherapy as he begins the new season of @Jeopardy. “Cancer is mysterious in more ways than one.” https://t.co/7UgSClQdI5 pic.twitter.com/B0kxEM0Eg2

— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 17, 2019