Anonymous
Post 03/07/2019 12:47     Subject: Alex Trebek stage 4 pancreatic cancer
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!



Pancreatic cancer kills plenty of people much younger than Alex Trebek. And quite quickly. While I think the PP is being pretty rude, the fact remains there's very little chance he'll be around much longer. It's just how stage IV pc works. Patrick Swayze made it a year. So I guess we'll see.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2019 12:43     Subject: Alex Trebek stage 4 pancreatic cancer
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.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2019 12:41     Subject: Re:Alex Trebek stage 4 pancreatic cancer
I also feel sorry for his wife and children. This is going to be so hard on so many levels. BTW - just saw a picture of his wife and she is gorgeous. 26 years younger than him but a truly stunning woman. They make a very nice looking couple.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2019 12:38     Subject: Alex Trebek stage 4 pancreatic cancer
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.

Anonymous
Post 03/07/2019 12:38     Subject: Alex Trebek stage 4 pancreatic cancer
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!


But he won't because he has stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He will be lucky to make 80, and it will be a very unpleasant "life". At least he will get to say goodbye to everyone he wants to. Sad, but also a part of life.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2019 12:35     Subject: Alex Trebek stage 4 pancreatic cancer
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!
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2019 12:24     Subject: Alex Trebek stage 4 pancreatic cancer
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.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2019 12:08     Subject: Alex Trebek stage 4 pancreatic cancer
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.


You have all the empathy of a box of styrofoam peanuts and may you receive the equal amount of empathy when you are in need.


I understand what the PP is getting at. I love Trebek, grew up watching him with my grandma! But he has the benefit of a full life and for that he’s probably very grateful. I don’t think we can fault him for trying to fight it; it’s very difficult coming to terms with such a diagnosis and in such a Public way. He probably feels he must give his fans comfort, as well. We get to face our deaths our own way, either with stoicism, avoidance, being matter of fact or being positive!
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2019 12:05     Subject: Alex Trebek stage 4 pancreatic cancer
I suspect within weeks he will not be well enough to host the show. He is most likely just starting chemo which is what really wipes people out. However I give him lots of respect for taking this on publicly. But I wouldn't be surprised to see him disappear from the air really soon.

I just watched a blogger I follow lose her husband to pancreatic cancer. He was healthy and just turned 44 years old. He didn't even make it 4 months.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2019 12:03     Subject: Alex Trebek stage 4 pancreatic cancer
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.


You have all the empathy of a box of styrofoam peanuts and may you receive the equal amount of empathy when you are in need.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2019 12:00     Subject: Alex Trebek stage 4 pancreatic cancer
Anonymous wrote:Well he has had 2 heart attacks already so we’re lucky he’s still around even now!
At least he didn’t just stroke out and die a week later in hospit....uh, nevermind


You ate a pathetic excuse of a human being.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2019 11:57     Subject: Alex Trebek stage 4 pancreatic cancer
This, plus Luke Perry, even though the two of them are not even in the same category at alL, make me so sad this week. :*(
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2019 11:54     Subject: Alex Trebek stage 4 pancreatic cancer
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!

Anonymous
Post 03/07/2019 08:55     Subject: Alex Trebek stage 4 pancreatic cancer
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.


How many people are “very realistic” when they first get a likely terminal diagnosis? He’s 78, not 98. If he has otherwise been healthy he probably is devastated that he won’t have more good years with his family. Devastated for himself and them. Give the man a break.

I’m glad you aren’t my relative. There’s realistic and then there’s faulting someone for giving life a shot in the face of long odds.


When a celebrity receives a diagnosis like this it does so much for research and awareness. He needs to fight for the good of the cause.
Anonymous
Post 03/07/2019 08:06     Subject: Alex Trebek stage 4 pancreatic cancer
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.


How many people are “very realistic” when they first get a likely terminal diagnosis? He’s 78, not 98. If he has otherwise been healthy he probably is devastated that he won’t have more good years with his family. Devastated for himself and them. Give the man a break.

I’m glad you aren’t my relative. There’s realistic and then there’s faulting someone for giving life a shot in the face of long odds.