'Jeopardy!' host Alex Trebek diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer: 'I'm gonna fight this'

Alex Trebek has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

The "Jeopardy!" host, 78, announced the diagnosis in a pre-taped video message posted on Wednesday afternoon, revealing that he found out earlier this week.

"Hi, everyone. I have some news to share with all of you, and it's in keeping with my longtime police of being open and transparent with our 'Jeopardy!' fanbase," Trebek said from the game show's set. "I also wanted to prevent you from reading or hearing some overblown or inaccurate reports regarding my health, so therefore I wanted to be the one to pass along this information: Now, just like 50,000 other people in the United States each year, this week I was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer."

"Now, normally the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I'm going to fight this and I'm going to keep working, and with the love and support of my family and friends and with the helps of your prayers, also, I plan to beat the low survival rate statistics for this disease," he went on. "Truth told, I have to, because under the terms of my contract, I have to host 'Jeopardy!' for three more years, so help me keep the faith and we'll win. We'll get it done! Thank you."

TMZ reports that Trebek, who has hosted the iconic show since 1984, intends on at least finishing out the current season.

Over the past year or so, Trebek has openly discussed his thoughts on retiring, candidly addressing rumors that he's planning on hanging up his hat in a variety of interviews. Earlier this year, he signed a contract that extended his hold on the gig through the 2012-2022 television season. Notably, the show has never aired episodes with a guest host.

Just last month, the television personality opened up about who he envisions his eventual replacement to be at the helm of "Jeopardy!," nothing that "it's probably going to be a woman."

"Somebody younger, somebody bright, somebody personable, somebody with a great sense of humor," he said, adding that CNN legal analyst Laura Coates and LA Kings announcer Alex Faust are some of his favorite potential options.

Alex Trebek has been married to wife Jean Currivan for 29 years.