For the first time since being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Jeopardy! game show host Alex Trebek updated his condition and thanked his fans in a message posted on YouTube Wednesday.
Trebek says he is “touched beyond words” by the support and messages of encouragement from his many legions of fans.
“Despite what you may have heard, I am feeling good. I’m continuing with my therapy,” he said, in the taped message on Wednesday.
Trebek has taped 50 shows since his March 6 announcement of his diagnosis. Jeopardy! has now wrapped up recording shows for the 35th year.
Jeopardy! officials say Trebek plans to return in July to begin taping the 36th season episodes which will begin airing in September.
“I look forward to seeing you in September with all kinds of good stuff,” he added.
Trebek plans to spend the next few months concentrating on his health.
The host has been at the helm of Jeopardy! since 1984. He’s won five Daytime Emmy awards for Outstanding Game Show Host and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Trebek is originally from Canada but now lives in Los Angeles. For a time, he owned a horse farm in Creston.
According to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, an organization that supports pancreatic cancer patients and research, more than 56,000 Americans are expected to be diagnosed with the disease in 2019. It’s the ninth most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and the tenth most commonly diagnosed in men.
Standard treatments for pancreatic cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Surgery can be invasive, again because of the location of the pancreas.
Jeopardy! airs on KSBY-TV Monday through Friday at 7 p.m.