Death Pool

[Carolina]

This is devastating news. That Alex was able and willing to tape the announcement of his illness is so brave and admirable. I can't imagine how hard that was to do. One small comfort is this tweet of Ken Jennings'- "One thing I know for a fact: Alex is very aware of how much he means to millions of people, and how we will be pulling for him...I hope that’s a comfort."

A miracle would be wonderful but really, I hope the rest of Alex's 2019 is as comfortable as possible and that he's able to have meaningful time with his family and friends.

[Mugsy]

Aw, that's a shame. There was just talk about who,would be a good replacement when he retires in a couple years. His statement was all "I,know it's fatal but I'm going to fight it!" but yeah. Pancreatic cancer is always fatal and stage IV?

[tabby]

Mar 19, 2005 3:03:24 GMT -4 Carolina said:

That Alex was able and willing to tape the announcement of his illness is so brave and admirable.

As one of my Facebook friends pointed out, his video used the same tone of voice, matter-of-fact diction, and wry humor that he uses as host of the show. I have a few friends who've been on Jeopardy!, and they all said what a consummate professional he is.

[Mutagen]

That really, really sucks. There's something so reassuringly constant about Jeopardy.

[Ladybug]

I'm so sad about Alex Trebek. What a horrible diagnosis. Is there any way to screen for pancreatic cancer? It seems like it is always discovered in it's late stages when treatment is minimally effective.

[Carolina]

Pancreatic cancer is almost always a killer. There's no early screening for it and by the time a person starts have symptoms that would make a person say "Hmmm, maybe I should go to the doctor" it tends to be advanced. Most people are diagnosed at stage IV, which has a 5 year survival rate of 3%.

[discoprincess]

Mar 7, 2019 10:54:29 GMT -4 Ladybug said:

I'm so sad about Alex Trebek. What a horrible diagnosis. Is there any way to screen for pancreatic cancer? It seems like it is always discovered in it's late stages when treatment is minimally effective.

I believe the late Charlotte Rae and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg managed to beat back pancreatic cancer. However, my understanding is that is rare.

[chitowngirl]

Sometimes Pancreatic Cancer is found in early stages because the doctors are looking at something else and find it. I don’t believe there is any kind of screening for it.

[Brookie]

Mar 7, 2019 11:18:28 GMT -4 chitowngirl said:

Sometimes Pancreatic Cancer is found in early stages because the doctors are looking at something else and find it. I don’t believe there is any kind of screening for it.

I'm made to understand it's basically like throat cancer - once it's found, it's too late (I've lost friends to both, and they didn't know about the cancers until they were well advanced and virtually untreatable).

[Deleted]

I'll be frank: I think Alex is a pompous ass. But he's OUR pompous ass. I've been a Jeopardy fan practically my entire life and to think of him not gently chastising people on my tv every night is incomprehensible!