TV game show host, Alex Trebek disclosed Wednesday that he is being treated for stage IV pancreatic cancer.
The American Cancer Society’s estimates for pancreatic cancer in the United States for 2019 are:
About 56,770 people (29,940 men and 26,830 women) will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
About 45,750 people (23,800 men and 21,950 women) will die of pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancers in the US and about 7% of all cancer deaths
South Florida specialist and board-certified gastroenterologist, John Rivas, M.D., from the Rivas Digestive Center, has years of experience diagnosing and treating this type of cancer.
According to Dr. Rivas:
- The pancreas is responsible for controlling blood sugars and to digest foods
- Symptoms are weight loss, lack of appetite, change in urine color and jaundice
- Pancreatic cancer sneaks up on you and is one of the more aggressive cancers
- It can attack any age group but is predominant in older adults
- Treatment can be either radiation, chemotherapy or surgery or a combination of all three
Read the full statement from Alex Trebek:
Hi everyone, I have some news to share with all of you and it’s in keeping with my longtime policy of being open and transparent with our Jeopardy! fan base. I also wanted to prevent you from reading or hearing some overblown or inaccurate reports regarding my health. So therefore, I wanted to be the one to pass along this information.
Now, just like 50,000 other people in the United States each year, this week I was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Now normally, the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I’m going to fight this, and 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.
Truth told I have to! Because under the terms of my contract, I have to host Jeopardy! for three more years! So help me. Keep the faith and we’ll win. We’ll get it done. Thank you.
