Enormous Love for Brave Alex Trebek as Jeopardy! “Greatest Of All Time” Tournament Begins

The national ourpouring of love and support for "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek continued as the show’s three top-winning champions wore purple ribbons in support of pancreatic cancer for the kickoff of  “Jeopardy! Greatest Of All Time” tournament, which fans have nicknamed Jeopardy GOAT.

Just noticed all the players on #JeopardyGOAT are wearing purple ribbons for Alex and IM FINE pic.twitter.com/zPGlMwmbqw

Vanderpumpkin Spice Rules (@ckbarrett) January 8, 2020

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Trebek, who has been publicly battling pancreatic cancer over the last ten months has expresed his deep appreciation for the support. "People all over … have decided they want to let me know now, while I'm alive, about the impact that I've been having on their existence," he told ABC’s Michael Strahan. "And my gosh, it makes me feel so good."

Recognizing Symptoms Leads to Earlier Diagnosis

One significant impact of the Jeopardy! host’s remarkable openness about his disease is known as The Trebek Effect, which has triggered an unprecedented level of awareness of pancreatic cancer and the warning signs that can help speed a diagnosis. In Trebek's PSA for the World Pancreatic Coalition, he acknowledged the low survival rate for pancreatic cancer, "In nearly every country, pancreatic cancer is the only major cancer with a five year survival rate in the single digits."

RELATED: The Alex Trebek Effect: The "Tremendous" Increase In People Looking For Information About Pancreatic Cancer

The best way to combat the disease, Trebek said, is by letting people know it exists and needs attention. "And that's why I've joined forces with the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition, to help raise global awareness of the risks and symptoms of pancreatic cancer."

Trebek got personal when he identified the symptoms he wished he’d recognized before he was diagnosed with his disease, "I wish I had known sooner that the persistent stomach pain I experienced before my diagnosis was a symptom of pancreatic cancer." He went on to list more symptoms so that viewers could be better informed, "Other common symptoms can include mid back pain, unexplained weight loss, new onset diabetes and the yellowing of the skin or eyes."

Dr. Anirban Maitra, co-leader of the Pancreatic Cancer Moon Shot at MD Anderson Cancer Center, explains why early detection is crucial in treating pancreatic cancer.

Chemotherapy and Hair-Loss Solutions

Although he has faced repeated rounds of chemotherapy and hair loss, Trebek looked as dapper and composed as ever on last-night’s show. When the 36th season of Jeopardy! debuted back in September, fans were delighted to see the longtime host on the set looking happy and healthy with a convincing full head of "hair." Trebek did confirm during a May interview that chemotherapy had caused him to lose his hair and that for Jeopardy! tapings, he was, in fact, wearing a hairpiece.

Alex Trebek's "Hair" Looks Amazing Just After Finishing Chemotherapy Here's The Expert Guide To Wigs During Cancer

Trebek’s Inspiring Bravery

The inspiring host, 79, who has been at the helm of the game show since 1984, was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in March 2019. And true to form, he shared his news publicly and with humor, to boot: After initially being optimistic about his chemotherapy treatment, in September, Trebek reported that he needed to undergo more because his "numbers went sky-high."

“This summer, because I was making such good progress, we thought I was finished with chemo," Trebek said at the time. "That was a bit premature and certainly overoptimistic. I began immunotherapy, but that didn't go well. My numbers went south dramatically and quickly. The doctors are now re-examining my situation and, it appears, I will be having more chemo treatments ahead of me," he continued. "Hey, they worked very well the first time, so we're expecting good results again."

Now, Trebek said, in his recent 20/20 interview, he's open to new therapies. "We may try a new protocol…a different chemo or something in the trial stage that is not chemotherapy," he said. "I don't mind experimenting. I've got nothing to lose, so let's go for it."

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