Jean's Loss
- Alex Trebek died this week from pancreatic cancer; he was 80 years old.
- His widow, Jean Trebek, 56, shared a picture from their wedding day, thanking people for their compassionate messages.
- Losing a spouse to cancer may lead to enormous grief; tools like therapy and support groups can help some to cope.
Alex’s Public Pancreatic Cancer Fight
Alex Trebek was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer in early 2019, and on March 6, 2019, the iconic game show host went public with his disease. There was an immediate uptick in interest around and awareness of pancreatic cancer. It was dubbed “The Alex Trebek Effect.”
Early detection of pancreatic cancer is especially crucial because it is an aggressive disease. Catching it early may improve one’s prognosis and treatment options. Symptoms of pancreatic cancer may include jaundice (yellowing of the eyes), weight loss, digestive issues, or back pain.
Dr. Anirban Maitra, co-leader of the Pancreatic Cancer Moon Shot at MD Anderson Cancer Center tells SurvivorNet, “Because the pancreas is inside the abdomen, it often doesn’t have symptoms that would tell you that something is wrong with your pancreas. By the time individuals walk into the clinic with symptoms like jaundice, weight loss, back pain, or diabetes, it’s often very late in the stage of the disease.”
“Only about 20% of individuals will actually be candidates for surgery,” says Dr. Maitra. “And of course, this has an impact on the prognosis of the disease, because patients who have advanced disease, the treatments we have available for them, they work somewhat, but they don’t really do as well as we would like for them to have an impact.”
Losing A Spouse to Cancer
Losing a spouse, partner, or loved one to cancer is overwhelming, and grief takes over, for a time. We are glad to hear that so many people are supporting Jean right now. Last year, Jean spoke with SurvivorNet about her spirituality, saying, “The universe will always respond. I am absolutely sure that we live in a benevolent universe that is always conspiring for our highest and greatest good." We imagine that her spirituality is a source of support and comfort during this time.
Other sources of support following a cancer death can be found via therapy, support groups, or simply leaning on friends and family. While moving through grief, it’s important to pursue the coping tools that feel right and effective to you. Grief is a deeply personal process, and there is no one right way to do it. We’re grateful to see that Jean Trebek remembering Alex with love and that so many people are in her corner to help her during this sad, difficult time.
"Therapy Saved My Life": After Losing A Loved One, Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help
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