鈥楯eopardy!鈥� host Alex Trebek has been struggling with 鈥渄eep, deep sadness鈥� since his cancer diagnosis but says he鈥檚 drawing strength from his supportive fans, during an interview with Good Morning America.
The long-time game show host, who first announced his diagnosis in March, told GMA host Robin Roberts how the ongoing treatment has been affecting him.
Trebek said one of the more difficult parts of dealing with the disease is the chemotherapy because he wasn鈥檛 expecting the feelings that often accompany treatment.
"What I鈥檓 not used to [is] dealing with the surges that come on suddenly of deep, deep sadness and it brings tears to my eye,鈥� he said Wednesday.
He jokes that 鈥淚鈥檝e discovered in this whole episode, ladies and gentlemen, that I鈥檓 a bit of a wuss." Trebek stressed he wanted to be open about all his experiences, including the depression he was facing.
鈥淐hemo affects people in different ways and people have to understand that, and that there鈥檚 nothing wrong with saying 鈥楬ey, I鈥檓 really depressed today and I don鈥檛 know why,鈥� Trebek said.
The 78-year-old Greater Sudbury, Ont.-native added that he has another chemotherapy session next week, when he鈥檇 also get an update on his progress.
鈥淢y oncologist tells me I鈥檓 doing well even though I don鈥檛 always feel it. I鈥檝e had kidney stones, I鈥檝e had ruptured discs, so I鈥檓 used to dealing with pain,鈥� Trebek said.
During his initial video last month where he revealed his stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis, Trebek said he would continue hosting 鈥淛eopardy!鈥� for a while.
But on Wednesday, he said he鈥檇 be taking a step back from his hosting duties over the summer.
"I feel weak all the time and that鈥檚 not a good place to be," Trebek said, adding he鈥檒l use the break to the rest before the next stages of his treatment.
In the meantime, he took solace in the fact that his fans were regularly giving him support and the strength to keep fighting. Trebek said viewers have been sharing "advice, good thoughts, and prayers" with him.
鈥淚 think I鈥檝e learned that I鈥檓 an extremely lucky individual because, in spite of the fact that this diagnosis is not a good one, I鈥檝e managed to receive so much love from so many people," Trebek said.
"Quite often you don鈥檛 get that during your lifetime. After you鈥檝e passed, after you鈥檙e dead, people say 鈥楬e was such a good guy, we really liked him.鈥� But I鈥檓 getting that all before that event and it makes me feel really, really good,鈥� he said smiling.
