Variety

'Wheel Of Fortune' Host Vanna White Shared An Update On Friend Alex Trebek's Cancer Battle

Wheel Of Fortune host, Vanna White, shared a refreshingly positive update on Jeopardy host, Alex Trebek's health and morale during his battle with stage four pancreatic cancer.

Back in March, "Jeopardy" host, Alex Trebek announced that he had, unfortunately, been diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer.

Getty Images | Ethan Miller

Despite delivering such awful news, he initially seemed optimistic about fighting the disease.

"Now, normally, the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I'm going to fight this," he said.

YouTube | Jeopardy!

"I'm going to keep working and with the love and support of my family and friends."

"And with the help of your prayers also — I plan to beat the low survival rate statistics for this disease," he added.

In August, the state of Alex's health seemed to be improving. But unfortunately, he suddenly suffered a major setback.

YouTube | Good Morning America

He revealed on Good Morning America in September, that he faced with a "dismal" setback in his fight against cancer.

“I was doing so well. And my numbers went down to the equivalent of a normal human being who does not have pancreatic cancer. So we were all very optimistic,” he said.

YouTube | Good Morning America

“[Doctors] said, ‘Good, we’re gonna stop chemo, we’ll start you on immunotherapy.’ I lost about 12 pounds in a week."

"My numbers went sky high, much higher than they were when I was first diagnosed," he said.

YouTube | Good Morning America

"So, the doctors have decided that I have to undergo chemo again and that’s what I’m doing.”

"When it happened early on I was down on myself," he confessed.

YouTube | Good Morning America

"I didn't realize how fallible each of us is in his or her own way."

"There are moments when, for no reason at all, I feel this surge of sadness, depression," he continued. "It doesn't last for very long, but it takes over your whole being for a period of time."

YouTube | CBC News: The National

"I’m 79-years-old. I’ve had one hell of a good life. And I’ve enjoyed it…the thought of passing on doesn’t frighten me, it doesn’t."

In October, in an interview with CTV, he gave fans a rather bleak update, admitting that he isn't "afraid of dying".

YouTube | CBC News: The National

“I'm hanging in,” he said. “So we're back on the chemo and we'll see if the numbers go down. And if they do... they can't keep doing it forever of course."

“They’ll have to find a new protocol or whatever to administer. We'll play it by ear and keep chugging along until we either win or lose," he said. “I’m not afraid of dying."

YouTube | CBC News: The National

“I’ve lived a good life, a full life, and I’m nearing the end of that life … if it happens, why should I be afraid that?

He explained that the upside to all of this, is that he's gotten to live a long happy life.

YouTube | CBC News: The National

“One thing they’re not going to say at my funeral, as a part of a eulogy, is ‘He was taken from us too soon.’”

In a more recent interview with Us Weekly, fellow game show host, Vanna White from "Wheel Of Fortune" revealed some positive news on Alex's condition and morale.

Variety

"He's doing good. He really is," she said.

"He looks good. I talked to him recently and he's got a very positive attitude."

YouTube | ABC News

She explained how much she admires Alex for being so transparent with his fans about his health.

"I love that he’s honest and open with his fans, because he’s been doing the show for a very long time also and feels very connected to all of his fans and viewers," she said.

YouTube | ABC News

"He is definitely keeping everybody updated on how he’s doing, and I am so proud of him."

"He’s still working, he’s obviously doing chemotherapy but working through it, and has that strong will to".

YouTube | ABC News

"As we say, the show must go on," she concluded.

I'm sure Alex's fans appreciate how honest he's been throughout his fight with cancer as well as his commitment to "Jeopardy".

YouTube | Click On Detroit

We're so glad to hear that Alex seems to be looking and feeling better, and we'll continue to keep him in our thoughts and prayers!