Alex Trebek Offers Encouraging Message To Congressman John Lewis

As Jeopardy! fans well know, the game show’s longtime host Alex Trebek is in the midst of a battle against advanced pancreatic cancer, as he revealed last spring. Now, Trebek is offering Congressman John Lewis — who is fighting the same disease — a message of encouragement, urging him to continue the fight. The two men are peers in this battle, as they are facing the same cancer and are the same age, according to USA Today. Lewis and Trebek are both 79-years-old.

Lewis is a Georgia Democrat who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1987. He revealed his diagnosis this past December, telling the press that he wasn’t going to step away from his position.

“We’re starting a new year, and let’s see if we can’t both complete the year as pancreatic cancer survivors,” Trebek said when asked what he would say to Lewis if had the chance.

Trebek has been candid about his cancer journey from the beginning, assuring his fans that he would give this fight his all and continue to host the show as long as he was able to. Initially, his cancer treatments achieved positive results and doctors informed him he was already nearing remission. Unfortunately, the cancer returned and his doctors had to adjust his chemotherapy treatment.

As The Inquisitr previously reported, Trebek has already been thinking about his last show and what message he’ll have for his loyal fans, many of whom have been watching him for years. The message won’t be lengthy. In fact, he said he will only need 30 seconds at the end of the show to say what he needs to say.

Sit-in leader @repjohnlewis slams Congress for not taking action on gun control: "Mr. Speaker, where is our soul?" pic.twitter.com/DWnDUIuTlS

— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) June 22, 2016

“I’ve kind of, in my mind, rehearsed it already, and what I would do on that day is tell the director, time the show down to leave me 30 seconds at the end. That’s all I want,” he said.

For many, it is hard to imagine Jeopardy! without Trebek. He’s been the host of the show for 34 years, since 1984. While some have asked Trebek who is expected to take his place after his eventual retirement, he always responds that doesn’t know and doesn’t want to be asked the question, emphasizing that he won’t be the one to make the ultimate call.

“I’m sure that if you give them the same love and attention and respect that you have shown me… then they will be a success and the show will continue being a success. And until we meet again, God bless you and goodbye.”