Alex Trebek has been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and is vowing to fight the disease.

The Canadian-born 鈥淛eopardy!鈥� host made the statement in a

鈥淣ormally, the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I鈥檓 going to fight this, and I鈥檓 going to keep working,鈥� Trebek said in the video.

Trebek joked that he must remain host of 鈥淛eopardy!鈥� in part because his contract requires him to continue his role for another three years. Trebek signed the contract last October.

The 78-year-old from Sudbury, Ont., has been the host of 鈥淛eopardy!鈥� since 1984. 

The City of Greater Sudbury鈥檚 Deputy Mayor Al Sizer said in an emailed statement that Trebek 鈥渉olds a special place in the hearts鈥� of the those in his hometown.

鈥淐ertainly our whole community has Alex and his family in our thoughts and we are all behind him in his battle against cancer and know that he鈥檚 going to be a fighter,鈥� Sizer wrote in the statement.

Trebek was given the Order of Canada in 2017 and joined the Canadian Walk of Fame in 2006.

He鈥檚 won five Emmy awards and earned the Daytime Emmy Awards鈥� Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.

the five-year survival rate for Stage 4 pancreatic cancer is just three per cent.

鈥淲ith 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,鈥� Trebek said.

Stage 4 is the final stage of pancreatic cancer and generally means the disease has spread to other parts of the body, typically the liver, lungs or bones.

Trebek has had health problems before. In January 2018, he underwent surgery to correct some blood clots found on his brain and suffered a mild heart attack in 2012.

Both health scares did not impact the show鈥檚 broadcast schedule.

In 2011, Trebek snapped his Achilles tendon after chasing a woman who had allegedly stolen items from his hotel room. He hosted the National Geographic World Championship while on crutches later that day.

Trebek鈥檚 latest health problem has received a groundswell of support on social media.

鈥淭he Sajak family is deeply saddened to hear of Alex Trebek鈥檚 struggle with cancer,鈥� Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak 鈥淥ur hearts go out to him and his family. But there is no one I know who is stronger and more determined, and I would never bet against him.鈥�

Ken Jennings, a former 鈥淛eopardy!鈥� contestant and the show鈥檚 second-highest earner,鈥淎lex is very aware of how much he means to millions of people, and how we will be pulling for him...I hope that鈥檚 a comfort.鈥�

: 鈥淚鈥檓 sure I鈥檓 among many loyal (鈥楯eopardy!鈥�) viewers who are shocked by this news. To Alex Trebek: know that the prayers of millions of people around the world, including from my family, are with you as you face this challenge head-on.鈥�