In an interview which will be airing on May 12, 2019, on “CBS Sunday Morning,” “Jeopardy” host Alex Trebek gave an in-home interview, his first, since telling the public he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
Seventy-eight-year-old Trebek said while “Jeopardy” was in production, a small lump was discovered by his doctors in his abdomen.
Trebek who has been the host of almost 8,000 episodes of the popular game show, was adamant that the show would not be canceled. His pain was so bad sometimes it was difficult for him make it to his dressing room.
Trebek said that things got so bad he would be lying on the floor in excruciating pain. The pain went from three to eleven. He had difficulty believing what was happening. The pain would come on when taping sometimes three or four times. He continued by saying it was very difficult to handle.
Trebek told the network he would have to take breaks for 15-minutes in between the episode filming. Generally, a week’s worth of shows was filmed in one day. He said spasms could last between ten to 15 minutes.
The producers were very understanding he said. The told him that they could cancel tapings. Trebek refused and said everybody was there, so they would tape.
When Trebek learned his diagnosis, he began chemotherapy. He admitted he was curious if fans would see he was wearing a hairpiece.
Trebek said, “I was told that when I am on air, the hairpiece is better than the hair I really had.” He added that they do not film during the summer, and he hopes his hair will grow back.
Written by Barbara Sobel
Sources:
Yahoo: Alex Trebek admits he was ‘writhing in pain’ between ‘Jeopardy’ tapings amid pancreatic cancer battle
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