'Jeopardy!' Host Alex Trebek Completes Chemo, Begins Season 36

LOS ANGELES, CA —Beating the odds, longtime "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek finished his chemotherapy treatment for stage 4 pancreatic cancer and is back at work taping season 36.

Trebek announced his return to work with a video he taped while joking with his studio audience.

"I've gone through a lot of chemotherapy, and thankfully that is now over," Trebek says on a video released on the show's social media channels. "I'm on the mend, and that's all I can hope for right now."

The 79-year-old household name shocked fans in March when he announced his stage 4 cancer diagnosis.

"Just like 50,000 other people in the United States each year, this week I was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer," Trebek said in his initial announcement. "Now normally the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I'm going to fight this and I'm going to keep working. 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."

Less than a week after making the announcement, he returned to work and thanked his fans for their support.

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"Hi everyone, I just want to take a few moments to say thanks to the - - believe it or not -- hundreds of thousands of people who have sent in tweets, texts, emails, cards, and letters wishing me well following my recent health announcement," Trebek said.

"Now obviously, I won't be able to respond to all of you individually but I did want you to know that I do read everything I receive and I am thankful for the kind words, the prayers, and the advice you have offered, and I'm extremely touched by the warmth you have expressed in your comments to me," Trebek continued. "I'm a lucky guy."

In Thursday's video, Trebek was back in his element, joking and taking questions from a "Jeopardy!" studio audience.

"We have some exciting things coming up and I can't wait to share them with all of you," he told his fans. "Let me tell you, it's going to be a good year."

A native of Canada and father of two, Trebek has hosted the syndicated quiz show since 1984.

City News Service