Doctors say the odds of Alex Trebek beating his pancreatic cancer aren't in his favor.

USA Today

Patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at stage 4 live an average of 12 to 15 months, said Dr. Timothy Donahue, professor of surgery, chief of surgical oncology and a pancreatic surgeon at UCLA. Donahue says, however, that the Jeopardy! host vowing to continue working will help him in his battle. "It's best for them to try and continue their normal lives as much as possible," he says. "It keeps their spirits up when combating this disease and trying to tolerate the treatment."