Jean Finds Comfort in Cooking
- Alex Trebek, 80, died of pancreatic cancer earlier this month, and his widow, Jean, is likely finding ways to cope.
- Trebek was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2019, and publicly battled this disease; early detection is crucial for pancreatic cancer.
- Moving through grief after losing a spouse to cancer takes time; support can be found in creative outlets, such as cooking, and/or in more formal settings, such as therapy or support groups.
Alex’s Pancreatic Cancer
Alex Trebek went public with his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in 2019 and fought it throughout 2020 while also still hosting Jeopardy! to the love and gratitude of his fans.Early detection for pancreatic cancer is crucial, as this is a particularly aggressive disease. Dr. Anirban Maitra, the Co-Leader of the Pancreatic Cancer Moon Shot at MD Anderson Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview why early detection is so important. Dr. Maitra said, “So the pancreas is an organ in your belly. And this is where pancreatic cancer arises. Because the pancreas is inside the abdomen, it often doesn’t have symptoms that would tell you that something is wrong with your pancreas.”
When symptoms finally present, it may be too late, Dr. Maitra tells us. “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. Each year in the United States, about 53,000 patients get pancreatic cancer. And unfortunately, most will die from this disease within a few months to a year or so from the diagnosis.”
Detecting Pancreatic Cancer Early Is Crucial
Moving Through Grief
As Jean Trebek hopefully finds comfort in the kitchen and through her family and friends, working through grief, there are other outlets available to her and others coping with cancer-related loss. Grief is a deeply personal process, and it’s important to find outlets and coping mechanisms that support you in the best possible way. Some people find that creative endeavors, such as cooking or painting, to be helpful ways to express hard emotions.
More formal tools, such as therapy, are support groups, are also beneficial. And of course, leaning on friends and loved ones during this difficult time is important, too. Whatever methods you chose to help you cope with grief, know that this is a process that will take time, and remember to be gentle with yourself throughout this period.
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