Alex Trebek admits battling stage 4 cancer leaves him with 'surges of deep, deep sadness' in first interview since diagnosis and reveals he didn't think anyone could beat Ken Jennings' Jeopardy! record before James Holzhauer's incredible 19-day streak

  • Beloved Jeopardy! host was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in March
  • Trebek revealed that there are days he feels 'deep sadness' from the chemo
  • Host joked that he has discovered through the battle that he is a 'bit of a wuss' 
  • But said his oncologist said he's doing well and he plans to be back next season
  • Holzhauer won Tuesday with $96,726, putting his total earnings at $1,426,330
  • If his streak continues at this pace, the professional Las Vegas gambler is on track to beat Ken Jennings' $2.5million record in half the time

Alex Trebek has candidly opened up about his battle with cancer in his first interview since the diagnosis, revealing there are days when he feels a 'deep, deep sadness'. 

But the beloved Jeopardy! host, who was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in March, also believes that he will be strong enough to film the show's 36th season.

'My oncologist tells me I'm doing well, even though I don't always feel it,' he told Good Morning America's Robin Roberts on Wednesday. 

'I've had kidney stones, I've had ruptured disks, so I'm used to dealing with pain, But what I'm not used to dealing with is the surges that come on suddenly of deep, deep sadness, and it brings tears to my eyes.' 

'I've discovered in this whole episode, ladies and gentleman, that I'm a bit of a wuss,' he continued with his famous good-natured humor. 'But I'm fighting through it.'  

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Alex Trebek has candidly opened up about his battle with cancer in his first interview since the diagnosis, revealing there are days when he feels a 'deep, deep sadness'

Alex Trebek has candidly opened up about his battle with cancer in his first interview since the diagnosis, revealing there are days when he feels a 'deep, deep sadness'

Trebek revealed that his weight and blood count are steady and that his cancer indicators are down. 

'I've got another chemo next week and then we'll do a review to find out where things stand,' he added. 

The beloved host joked that he got 'lucky' because his diagnosis came at the end of the Jeopardy! season. 

'We wrapped up the season and now I have the summer months to recuperate and get strong again,' he continued. 'I just have to get strong because, as you know, the chemo takes it out of you. I mean, I feel so weak all the time and that's not a good place to be.' 

'Chemo affects people in different ways and people have to understand that,' he added. 'There's nothing wrong with saying, "Hey, I'm really depressed today and I have no idea why, why am I crying today?' 

'My oncologist tells me I'm doing well, even though I don't always feel it,' Trebek told Good Morning America 's Robin Roberts on Wednesday

'My oncologist tells me I'm doing well, even though I don't always feel it,' Trebek told Good Morning America 's Robin Roberts on Wednesday

Roberts, herself a fellow cancer survivor, noted that the host was 'quintessential Alex Trebek' when he walked into the studio that morning and cracked jokes with everyone. 

'I just take it as it comes,' Trebek said as he discussed his chemotherapy. 'I go in, I sit down, I joke with the nurses and I'm there for an hour-and-a-half while they inject all this stuff into me and then I go home and have a good day.' 

'Then the next day, for no reason that I can fathom, it turns south on me - but that's okay. You have to deal with it. What am I gonna do? It's something I'm afflicted with, we are dealing with it chemically and spiritually and those are positives.' 

'Hopefully everything is going to turn out well and I'll be back on the air with original programming this September.' 

The beloved Jeopardy! host, pictured with his wife Jean in 2014, was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in March

The beloved Jeopardy! host, pictured with his wife Jean in 2014, was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in March

Trebek announced his devastating diagnosis in a YouTube video to Jeopardy! fans in March, joking that he had to beat the cancer because he was contracted to host the show for the next three years.  

'I'm going to fight this, and I'm going to keep working,' he bravely declared. 'Keep the faith, and we'll win, we'll get it done.'  

Trebek has the support of his family; son Matthew (far left), daughter Nicky (second left), daughter Emily (center) and wife Jean (second right)

Trebek has the support of his family; son Matthew (far left), daughter Nicky (second left), daughter Emily (center) and wife Jean (second right)

As Roberts praised Trebek with disclosing something so personal to the entire world, the host revealed it was his fans who were helping lift him up through such a hard time.

'People all over America have been sharing their good thoughts, their advice, their prayers, and I feel it is making a difference in my well-being,' he said.  

'I've had so many contacts from people who have survived cancer for 10 years, 12 years, 14 years. I am now a 30-day cancer survivor, I'm going to catch up to those people! But they have been an inspiration for me.' 

Trebek revealed that he also wanted to speak out to raise awareness for a cancer that is known for its high mortality rates. 

'That's really what it's all about, it's drawing attention to this particular type of devastating cancer, making people aware of it, telling them they should take certain precautions beforehand to find out,' he added. 

'We never discover pancreatic cancer before it's too late, unfortunately. Things have changed immensely over the years, as you know. Doctors keep coming up with new cures and, pretty soon, we're going to wind up with the cure, I hope.'  

It wasn't all serious chat on Wednesday morning. Roberts and Trebek couldn't help but discuss the incredible run of James Holzhauer, who is currently on a 19-day winning streak

It wasn't all serious chat on Wednesday morning. Roberts and Trebek couldn't help but discuss the incredible run of James Holzhauer, who is currently on a 19-day winning streak

Holzhauer finished Tuesday's Final Jeopardy with $96,726, putting his total earnings at an incredible $1,426,330

Holzhauer finished Tuesday's Final Jeopardy with $96,726, putting his total earnings at an incredible $1,426,330

Trebek revealed that, before Holzhauer came on the scene, he never thought Ken Jennings' $2.5million record would be broken

Trebek revealed that, before Holzhauer came on the scene, he never thought Ken Jennings' $2.5million record would be broken

At the end of the day, Trebek said his entire battle with cancer has made him realize he's an 'extremely lucky individual'. 

'In spite of the fact that this diagnosis is not a good one, I have managed to receive so much love from so many people,' he said. 

'Quite often, you don't get that during your lifetime. After you're passed, after you're dead, people say, "Oh, he was such a good guy we really liked him", but I'm getting that all before that event. So it makes me feel really, really good.' 

It wasn't all serious chat on Wednesday morning. Roberts and Trebek couldn't help but discuss the incredible run of James Holzhauer, who has shaken up Jeopardy! and is currently on a 19-day winning streak. 

Holzhauer finished Tuesday's Final Jeopardy with $96,726, putting his total earnings at $1,426,330. 

If his streak continues at this pace, the professional Las Vegas gambler is on track to beat Ken Jennings' $2.5million record in half the time. 

Trebek revealed that, before Holzhauer came on the scene, he never thought Jennings' record could be beat. 

'But I look at James and say, "Oh my gosh, look at what he's doing". James is at a million and a half already, twice as fast as Ken Jennings did,' he added. 

Holzhauer only won by $18 on Monday night's episode (pictured), his closest call yet. Trbeek said it had 'scared' Holzhauer

Holzhauer only won by $18 on Monday night's episode (pictured), his closest call yet. Trbeek said it had 'scared' Holzhauer 

'And when you look at his performance, he has no weaknesses. He's only missed one Final Jeopardy, I believe he's missed four Daily Doubles, he's all in so often, he knows how to play the game as Ken did, he he has a strategy, he's a gambler.' 

Roberts then noted that Holzhauer only won by $18 on Monday night's episode, his closest call yet.   

'It scared him, it scared him,' Trebek revealed. '[But] he won by $18, he won! In Vegas, it doesn't matter if you win by a dollar or $18. If you win, you won.' 

'It's exciting, our ratings are great thanks to him, but everywhere I go people are talking about him,' he added. 'David Muir is talking about him on evening newscast for crying out loud!'  

Holzhauer is now tied for the third-longest winning streak on the show. If he wins on Wednesday, he will tie the title for second-longest winning streak. 

He also now holds the record for most money won in a single game ($131,127) and is the third highest-earner in the show's history.  

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Alex Trebek opens up about battling stage 4 cancer in first interview

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