Alex Trebek Returns for 'Jeopardy!' Season 36 Premiere After Cancer Treatment: 'I'm Still Here'

Alex Trebekwas back in action on Monday night for Jeopardy!‘s season 36 premiere aftermonths of treatmentfor stage 4 pancreatic cancer. “Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to our show,” he said on the episode. “I truly hope you folks have enjoyed revisiting some of our special tournaments throughout this past summer. But today,Jeopardy!begins its 36th season on the air and I’m happy to report, I’m still here,” he continued.

Alex Trebek Returns to 'Jeopardy!' One Week After Revealing Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis

Alex Trebekis back to work after revealing hisstage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis.On Tuesday, Trebek returned to theJeopardy!set for his first day back and first scheduled taping day since announcing his diagnosis, aJeopardy!rep confirmed to PEOPLE.Last week, on Wednesday, March 6, Trebek shared his cancer news with fans in a video message.“Hi everyone, I have some news to share with all of you. And it’s in keeping with my longtime policy of being open and transparent with ourJeopardyfanbase.

Alex Trebek Reveals Some of His Tumors Have Shrunk by 50 Percent: 'It's Kind of Mind-Boggling'

WhenJeopardy!hostAlex Trebekwasdiagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancerthree months ago, fans were shocked. But now the beloved Trebek has good news to share: He’s in “near remission,” according to doctors. Still, that doesn’t mean the longtimeJeopardy!hostis totally out of the woods yet. For more on Trebek’s treatment progress, pick up a copy of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday Ramona Rosales Trebek says he’ll still have to go throughseveral more rounds of chemotherapyto hopefullyget into full remission, but he’s elated at how far he’s come.

Alex Trebek Said He'd 'Be Lost' Without 'Jeopardy!' 2 Months Before Cancer Diagnosis

Two months prior to beingdiagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer,Alex Trebekopened up to PEOPLE about his retirement plans.“They’ve been wondering [if I’m going to retire] for years,” the longtimeJeopardy!host said. “Somebody asked me once, ‘Have you given any thought to retiring?’ This was about seven, eight years ago. And I said, ‘Yes I have.’ Well, all of a sudden, Trebek is retiring. No. He has thought about retirement!”He continued, “You get to a certain age, and if you’ve been doing the same show for 30 years, or the same job, whatever it is, for 30 years, wouldn’t you think about retirement?

Alex Trebek Says 'We Will Beat Cancer' After Admitting He Experiences 'Deep Sadness' Amid Diagnosis

Alex Trebekis drawing hope from pancreatic cancer survivors as he continues to battle the disease. On Saturday, the longtimeJeopardy!host was the keynote speaker at thePancreatic Cancer Action Network walkat the Los Angeles Zoo, where he helped raise money to fund pancreatic cancer research and told attendees that despite the grave disease, “there is hope.” He then revealed to attendees that he is 62 days into his own cancer journey, but he hopes to make it to 22 years, just like Angie.