Alex Trebek's Cancer Battle Gives People Hope
- Trebek is fighting stage 4 pancreatic cancer
- He has returned to work as a host on Jeopardy! while undergoing treatment
- Millions of viewers see his strength every day
Trebek has been undergoing experimental immunotherapy for his treatment, and while it has not been an easy road, the beloved host has fought hard and come out swinging. His determination and resilience are inspiring to all of us witnessing it.
Rather than having shame about a cancer diagnosis, Trebek has marched on and shared his battle with the public.
Being a Survivor in the Public Eye
Alex Trebek is about as “public” as you get. The 80-year-old TV star has been appearing in homes across the U.S. every weekday for the past 36 years as host of Jeopardy! And as a public figure, he gives hope to others battling cancer.
In footage found by TMZ, the TV host said, "As you all know, survivorship is measured starting from the date you are diagnosed with cancer and on that scale, my gosh, I'm a 62-day survivor. Give me a break…But I'm working on it. And I promise you this: That if I become a 22-year survivor, you will all be welcomed at my 100th birthday."
We are all crossing our fingers for that 100th birthday invitation, and that Trebek’s cancer journey and treatment continue to be successful.
Detecting Pancreatic Cancer Early Is Crucial
Understanding Pancreatic Cancer
Thanks to Trebek’s openness in sharing his illness, there is even greater awareness of pancreatic cancer. Early detection is crucial for pancreatic cancer. Dr. Anirban Maitra is the Co-Leader of the Pancreatic Cancer Moon Shot, which has two primary goals:
- Increase the five-year survival rate from 5% to more than 20%
- Decrease the percentage of patients with inoperable pancreatic adenocarcinoma at diagnosis from 85% to 70%
Dr. Maitra writes for SurvivorNet of pancreatic cancer: “With a five-year survival rate of just nine percent, it's vital that it's caught as early as possible. Nearly 57,000 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year. Although pancreatic cancer survival rates have been improving for decades, it's still considered to be largely incurable. An exception to this is if the tumor is still small enough and localized enough to be operated on. As most pancreatic cancers are particularly aggressive and progress rapidly, this means we need to catch them early.”
Early Detection
Early detection is crucial for beating this cancer. “If you're at high risk, and you suspect something might be wrong, there are tests that can be performed to see whether you might have pancreatic cancer,” says Dr. Maitra. “An endoscopic ultrasound or an MRI scan are two common ways of doing this, and doctors have been known to find early and treatable pancreatic cancers using both of these tests.”
Related: New Drug to Keep Some Pancreatic Cancers from Worsening Takes a Giant Step Forward
He continues to say, “Studies have been conducted on a blood test for pancreatic cancer, and although this looks very promising, more tests are needed, and at the moment an ultrasound and MRI are still the best widely available tests we have.”
The drug, a type of PARP inhibitor, could reduce the risk of disease progression by a dramatic 47%. The treatment was approved for what's called "maintenance therapy," which means keeping the cancer from worsening after it's been treated with chemotherapy.
Trebek on Center Stage
Beloved figures like Trebek and Swayze elevate the profile of this cancer, by virtue of their names being in the same sentence with it. Now that Trebek is back to his hosting duties, we will be listening to his game show questions, and rooting for the right answers especially when it comes to advancements in pancreatic cancer treatments.
Dr. Allyson Ocean explains why pancreatic cancer is so difficult to treat
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