- "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek, who announced his own fight with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in March of 2019, had a message of support for Rep. John Lewis as both undergo treatment for the disease.
- The veteran civil rights icon announced his diagnosis with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in late December, saying he plans to undergo treatment.
- Lewis said in the statement that he still plans on returning to Washington to continue his work while undergoing treatment.
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"Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek sent words of support to Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, as they both battle pancreatic cancer.
The veteran civil rights icon announced his diagnosis with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in late December, saying he plans to undergo treatment.
"I have been in some kind of fight – for freedom, equality, basic human rights – for nearly my entire life," Lewis, 79, said in a statement. "I have never faced a fight quite like the one I have now."
Trebek, the 79-year-old, long-time television host, who announced his own fight with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in March of 2019, had a message of support for Lewis.
"We're starting a new year, and let's see if we can't both complete the year as pancreatic cancer survivors," Trebek told AP.
Alongside Trebek, other celebrities and members of Congress offered good thoughts and prayers to the congressman, including former President Barack Obama and Bernice King, the youngest daughter of Martin Luther King Jr.
If there’s one thing I love about @RepJohnLewis, it’s his incomparable will to fight. I know he’s got a lot more of that left in him. Praying for you, my friend.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 30, 2019
#JohnLewis is alive.
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) December 30, 2019
Let’s not bury him in response to a diagnosis, no matter how dire.
Think high.
Love deeply.
Be encouraged.
Encourage him. pic.twitter.com/5kaDIj174O
Lewis said in the statement that he plans on returning to Washington to continue his work while undergoing treatment, but that he "may miss a few votes during this period, but with God's grace I will be back on the front lines soon."
"So I have decided to do what I know to do and do what I have always done: I am going to fight it and keep fighting for the Beloved Community," Lewis said in the statement. "We still have many bridges to cross."
Trebek has continued to serve as the host of "Jeopardy!" while undergoing chemotherapy. Fans of the show and contestants alike have shown support for the television host, including a recent contestant, Dhruv Gaur, who used his Final Jeopardy answer to offer a message of support.
"I don't want to get too mushy. I got mushy when young Dhruv wrote his final 'Jeopardy!' response, 'We love you Alex! 'That caught me by surprise, brought me to the edge of tears," Trebek told AP. "It's humbling to realize there are so many people out there who care enough about you to want to pray for you every day, who want to send you their best wishes."
Trebek has been open about his diagnosis with viewers since the beginning, saying that the disease could potentially bring his hosting duties to an end. Nonetheless, he said he believes the popularity of the show will live on even after he leaves the show.
"No matter who's hosting it, 'Jeopardy!' will go on. It's a quality program and it's put together by very bright people. And when I move on, that doesn't matter, " he told AP. "It's the best kind of reality television, so it will endure."
- Read more:
- 'Jeopardy!' host Alex Trebek gets choked up after a contestant writes 'We love you, Alex' as his response in Final Jeopardy
- Alex Trebek says pancreatic cancer may bring his 'Jeopardy!' hosting duties to an end
- Members of Congress, celebrities, and activists offer words of support after civil-rights icon Rep. John Lewis announces stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis
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