Alex Trebek stage 4 pancreatic cancer

[Anonymous]

Pancreatic cancer is seriously terrifying. One day you're fine, and then three months later you're dead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's be honest, he is 78. He is also not being very realistic about this. Also, why not accept the diagnosis? Why fight so hard with that diagnosis and his age?

He lived a long good life.

78 is still youngish for many people. I was skiing in Utah last week with not only many septuagenarians but also many octogenarians as well. I'm always amazed when I ski out west every year how many folks have retired to the mountains and stay extremely young and fit hiking, mountain biking, skiing, etc. year-round. My ski instructor was in his late 60s!

Yes! And, I'll tell the pp 'why'. Because he loves life. He has a lot to live for, young wife, kids and future grandkids he'd like to meet.

My dad was diagnosed Stage IV at 75 and, like Trebek, people placed him a good 10-15 years younger. He was vibrant and full of life. My dad lived for his grandchildren, absolutely lived for them. He derived so much joy from them and was so involved in all of their lives. He loved watching them grow up. My kids were younger than the others and he really didn't want to miss a thing. He would get in fights with my mom when he would tell her he was going to drive 50 minutes to one of their games, when he was weak. And, when he couldn't be there, he would call as soon as he knew it was over to get an update. They shared his love of history, etc.

My dad had another form of cancer with a slightly better prognosis and he went guns out. He never complained. He was tough as hell. He continually defied his doctors and they all were crying when he passed. He was so funny and sharp until the end. He did not want his grandkids to see him when he was weak with treatment and we honored his wishes. He didn't want to be remembered that way, but at the end that changed. They amazed me with their strength, love and compassion.

He passed peacefully with pride and dignity, but I could never have seen him just letting it happen without trying. Somebody always has to beat the odds, right. I think his thinking (and his doctors definitely gave him that hope) why not him? He just loved life and his family and didn't want it to end.

There is no shame in that. Some people are fighters despite all odds. There is a great deal of honor in acceptance as well and my mother swears if she gets cancer she will not seek treatment at her age--even though at 75 she can run circle around most 40 year olds I know.

But, who knows what will happen if she is ever faced with that choice.

I don't judge.

I am so sorry for your loss. You wrote so movingly and descriptively, I felt a little piece of your dad, even though of course we never knew him. Take care.

Thank you. He was THE Jeopardy champion every night and my mom and I joked last night that he is up there waiting to finally get his chance with Trebek. I've been told by so many people that he was the smartest person
(and funniest) they ever met. Look out Alex-ha!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pancreatic cancer is seriously terrifying. One day you're fine, and then three months later you're dead.

It is absolutely terrifying. I wish they would come up with better markers/early detection, and of course treatment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's be honest, he is 78. He is also not being very realistic about this. Also, why not accept the diagnosis? Why fight so hard with that diagnosis and his age?

He lived a long good life.

78 is still youngish for many people. I was skiing in Utah last week with not only many septuagenarians but also many octogenarians as well. I'm always amazed when I ski out west every year how many folks have retired to the mountains and stay extremely young and fit hiking, mountain biking, skiing, etc. year-round. My ski instructor was in his late 60s!

Yes! And, I'll tell the pp 'why'. Because he loves life. He has a lot to live for, young wife, kids and future grandkids he'd like to meet.

My dad was diagnosed Stage IV at 75 and, like Trebek, people placed him a good 10-15 years younger. He was vibrant and full of life. My dad lived for his grandchildren, absolutely lived for them. He derived so much joy from them and was so involved in all of their lives. He loved watching them grow up. My kids were younger than the others and he really didn't want to miss a thing. He would get in fights with my mom when he would tell her he was going to drive 50 minutes to one of their games, when he was weak. And, when he couldn't be there, he would call as soon as he knew it was over to get an update. They shared his love of history, etc.

My dad had another form of cancer with a slightly better prognosis and he went guns out. He never complained. He was tough as hell. He continually defied his doctors and they all were crying when he passed. He was so funny and sharp until the end. He did not want his grandkids to see him when he was weak with treatment and we honored his wishes. He didn't want to be remembered that way, but at the end that changed. They amazed me with their strength, love and compassion.

He passed peacefully with pride and dignity, but I could never have seen him just letting it happen without trying. Somebody always has to beat the odds, right. I think his thinking (and his doctors definitely gave him that hope) why not him? He just loved life and his family and didn't want it to end.

There is no shame in that. Some people are fighters despite all odds. There is a great deal of honor in acceptance as well and my mother swears if she gets cancer she will not seek treatment at her age--even though at 75 she can run circle around most 40 year olds I know.

But, who knows what will happen if she is ever faced with that choice.

I don't judge.

I am so sorry for your loss. You wrote so movingly and descriptively, I felt a little piece of your dad, even though of course we never knew him. Take care.

Thank you. He was THE Jeopardy champion every night and my mom and I joked last night that he is up there waiting to finally get his chance with Trebek. I've been told by so many people that he was the smartest person
(and funniest) they ever met. Look out Alex-ha!

Haha! That's funny!

[Anonymous]

Such sad news. I have a good friend who made it a little over 5 years after diagnosis, and had some very good years to do stuff with his family and travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pancreatic cancer is seriously terrifying. One day you're fine, and then three months later you're dead.

It is absolutely terrifying. I wish they would come up with better markers/early detection, and of course treatment.

How about death from accidental injury? 165k Americans die that way every year. They don’t get 3 or 6 months. Or maybe not even hours.

THAT isn’t terrifying?


Risk factors for this disease include smoking, obesity, genetics, and diet. Chemical exposure, and above all....age.

By the way without knowing the exact terms of his disease, one cannot know how he will fare. If he has neuroendocrine cancer he may have several years of a rather indolent course. If he has favorable genetic data he may do better on therapies targeted to that. I wish him well!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pancreatic cancer is seriously terrifying. One day you're fine, and then three months later you're dead.

It is absolutely terrifying. I wish they would come up with better markers/early detection, and of course treatment.

How about death from accidental injury? 165k Americans die that way every year. They don’t get 3 or 6 months. Or maybe not even hours.

THAT isn’t terrifying?


Risk factors for this disease include smoking, obesity, genetics, and diet. Chemical exposure, and above all....age.

By the way without knowing the exact terms of his disease, one cannot know how he will fare. If he has neuroendocrine cancer he may have several years of a rather indolent course. If he has favorable genetic data he may do better on therapies targeted to that. I wish him well!!

Okay, so? Yes, your scenarios are terrifying. That doesn't make a pancreatic cancer diagnosis less so. It's not a competition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pancreatic cancer is seriously terrifying. One day you're fine, and then three months later you're dead.

It is absolutely terrifying. I wish they would come up with better markers/early detection, and of course treatment.

How about death from accidental injury? 165k Americans die that way every year. They don’t get 3 or 6 months. Or maybe not even hours.

THAT isn’t terrifying?


Risk factors for this disease include smoking, obesity, genetics, and diet. Chemical exposure, and above all....age.

By the way without knowing the exact terms of his disease, one cannot know how he will fare. If he has neuroendocrine cancer he may have several years of a rather indolent course. If he has favorable genetic data he may do better on therapies targeted to that. I wish him well!!

Okay, so? Yes, your scenarios are terrifying. That doesn't make a pancreatic cancer diagnosis less so. It's not a competition.

Thank you for taking the words out of my mouth.

Lost my mom in a car accident -- terrifying.
Lost my dad 6 months after stage IV pancreatic diagnosis -- terrifying.

God bless him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pancreatic cancer is seriously terrifying. One day you're fine, and then three months later you're dead.

Agreed. I had two grandfathers die within 3 weeks of diagnosis. And the one had stage 3 pancreatic. So quick. One was only 62

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's be honest, he is 78. He is also not being very realistic about this. Also, why not accept the diagnosis? Why fight so hard with that diagnosis and his age?

He lived a long good life.

78 is still youngish for many people. I was skiing in Utah last week with not only many septuagenarians but also many octogenarians as well. I'm always amazed when I ski out west every year how many folks have retired to the mountains and stay extremely young and fit hiking, mountain biking, skiing, etc. year-round. My ski instructor was in his late 60s!

They may still act, look, feel “youngish” but they aren’t. That is pretty much a full life expectancy for a male. People go from great health to dead or ill —sometimes very quickly. That’s just life.

For goodness sake -- someone who is skiiing at 75 probably has a 15-20 year life expectancy. Alex Trebek appears to be perfectly fit, obviously has no mental declines, he could easily live into his nineties. Isn't his mother still alive? She's nearly 100!

You think skiing means you have 15-20 years left? Lol
My OB GYN died while skiing at 61.
My FIL died a week after a ski trip at 52 yrs, of legionnaires disease. He was totally healthy otherwise.
And good god, having a 100 year old mom guarantees nothing.
My mom died of breast cancer in her 60’s, both her parents out lived her.
Sweetie, there are NO Guarantees. That you need to accept. You can’t out ski luck. You can’t control everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pancreatic cancer is seriously terrifying. One day you're fine, and then three months later you're dead.

Agreed. I had two grandfathers die within 3 weeks of diagnosis. And the one had stage 3 pancreatic. So quick. One was only 62

You are a person who would benefit from screening for this. Which you must already know ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's be honest, he is 78. He is also not being very realistic about this. Also, why not accept the diagnosis? Why fight so hard with that diagnosis and his age?

He lived a long good life.

78 is still youngish for many people. I was skiing in Utah last week with not only many septuagenarians but also many octogenarians as well. I'm always amazed when I ski out west every year how many folks have retired to the mountains and stay extremely young and fit hiking, mountain biking, skiing, etc. year-round. My ski instructor was in his late 60s!

Yes! And, I'll tell the pp 'why'. Because he loves life. He has a lot to live for, young wife, kids and future grandkids he'd like to meet.

My dad was diagnosed Stage IV at 75 and, like Trebek, people placed him a good 10-15 years younger. He was vibrant and full of life. My dad lived for his grandchildren, absolutely lived for them. He derived so much joy from them and was so involved in all of their lives. He loved watching them grow up. My kids were younger than the others and he really didn't want to miss a thing. He would get in fights with my mom when he would tell her he was going to drive 50 minutes to one of their games, when he was weak. And, when he couldn't be there, he would call as soon as he knew it was over to get an update. They shared his love of history, etc.

My dad had another form of cancer with a slightly better prognosis and he went guns out. He never complained. He was tough as hell. He continually defied his doctors and they all were crying when he passed. He was so funny and sharp until the end. He did not want his grandkids to see him when he was weak with treatment and we honored his wishes. He didn't want to be remembered that way, but at the end that changed. They amazed me with their strength, love and compassion.

He passed peacefully with pride and dignity, but I could never have seen him just letting it happen without trying. Somebody always has to beat the odds, right. I think his thinking (and his doctors definitely gave him that hope) why not him? He just loved life and his family and didn't want it to end.

There is no shame in that. Some people are fighters despite all odds. There is a great deal of honor in acceptance as well and my mother swears if she gets cancer she will not seek treatment at her age--even though at 75 she can run circle around most 40 year olds I know.

But, who knows what will happen if she is ever faced with that choice.

I don't judge.

As somebody from a seriously f-ed up family, trying to do a lot better for my now grown daughter - this is very inspirational. Your dad sounds amazing, and I wish he was my dad. What a role model. Thank you for writing all of this out. It is inspiring - the love he gave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pancreatic cancer is seriously terrifying. One day you're fine, and then three months later you're dead.

Agreed. I had two grandfathers die within 3 weeks of diagnosis. And the one had stage 3 pancreatic. So quick. One was only 62

Very sad. What is also sad, referring to a previous poster, is when people decide a certain age is acceptable to die. I'm 62, and don't think I am there. I think I will feel that way at 78. Probably 88 as well. People live a long time, marriages are now posting 60 and 70 year anniversaries. I want that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pancreatic cancer is seriously terrifying. One day you're fine, and then three months later you're dead.

Agreed. I had two grandfathers die within 3 weeks of diagnosis. And the one had stage 3 pancreatic. So quick. One was only 62

Very sad. What is also sad, referring to a previous poster, is when people decide a certain age is acceptable to die. I'm 62, and don't think I am there. I think I will feel that way at 78. Probably 88 as well. People live a long time, marriages are now posting 60 and 70 year anniversaries. I want that.

Be grateful. At 88, if you don’t fell it’s acceptable to die.....well you have major issues. Just because others live long doesn’t mean you will. You are weird. And desperate sounding.

[Anonymous]

Some of ya'll are really having a weird-ass argument.