‘Jeopardy’ Host Alex Trebek Releases Public Service Announcement on Cancer

'I Wish I had Known Sooner'

Alex Trebek in a file photograph. Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

Longtime “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek recorded a public service announcement on cancer, saying he wishes he had known he had it sooner.

Trebek, 79, teamed up with the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition to record the video.

“Pancreatic cancer is the only major cancer with a five years survival rate in the single digits. Now, in order to help patients help and survive this disease, more attention and awareness are needed.”

He said he wanted to spread the word about symptoms and the disease.

“I wish I had known sooner that the persistent stomach pain I experienced before my diagnosis was a symptom of pancreatic cancer,” he says in the video. “Other common symptoms can include mid-back pain, unexplained weight loss, new-onset diabetes and the yellowing of the skin or eyes.”

Trebek said people should wear purple in November to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer and share information about the cancer and its symptoms on social media.

The PSA came several weeks before World Pancreatic Cancer Day, which is slated for Nov. 21.

The cancer affects the pancreas, an organ that sits behind the stomach.

According to the American Cancer Society, about 56,770 people (29,940 men and 26,830 women) will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the United States this year.

Of those, about 45,750 people (23,800 men and 21,950 women) will die of pancreatic cancer.

Surgeons operate on a patient with pancreatic cancer in a file photograph. Romain Lafedregue/AFP/Getty Images

Pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3 percent of all cancers in the country and about 7 percent of all cancer deaths.

Trebek announced earlier this year that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, releasing a video announcement.

“It’s in keeping with my long-time 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,” he said at the time.

“Now, normally the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I’m gonna fight this, and I’m gonna keep working,” he said at the time. “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.”

Trebek completed chemotherapy in August and began hosting the 36th season of “Jeopardy!” as it premiered.

In September, he said he had to start chemo again after a setback.

“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. And they said, ‘Good, we’re gonna stop chemo, we’ll start you on immunotherapy,” Trebek said during an appearance on “Good Morning America.”

“I lost about 12 pounds in a week. And my numbers went sky high, much higher than they were when I was first diagnosed. So, the doctors have decided that I have to undergo chemo again and that’s what I’m doing.”