Former U.S. Senator Ben Sasse has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, according to a statement released this Tuesday.
Sasse, a Republican who represented Nebraska in the U.S. Senate from 2015 until his resignation in 2023, disclosed that the cancer was discovered recently and that he has begun treatment.
“This is a tough note to write, but since a bunch of you have started to suspect something, I’ll cut to the chase: Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die,” Sasse continued. “Advanced pancreatic is nasty stuff; it’s a death sentence. But I already had a death sentence before last week too — we all do.”
“I’m blessed with amazing siblings and half-a-dozen buddies that are genuinely brothers. As one of them put it, ‘Sure, you’re on the clock, but we’re all on the clock.’ Death is a wicked thief, and the bastard pursues us all,” he added.
The Nebraska Republican added, “I’ll have more to say. I’m not going down without a fight.”
“One sub-part of God’s grace is found in the jawdropping advances science has made the past few years in immunotherapy and more,” he wrote near the end of the post. “Death and dying aren’t the same — the process of dying is still something to be lived. We’re zealously embracing a lot of gallows humor in our house, and I’ve pledged to do my part to run through the irreverent tape.”
Pancreatic cancer is widely regarded as one of the most aggressive forms of cancer, often diagnosed at advanced stages due to limited early symptoms. Treatment typically involves chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, or a combination of approaches, depending on the stage of the disease.
Sasse resigned from the Senate in January 2023 after being selected to serve as president of the University of Florida. His tenure there ended in 2024 following internal controversy unrelated to his health.
Several current and former lawmakers from both parties publicly offered messages of support following the announcement. No additional details about the stage of the cancer or long-term prognosis were provided.
Sasse indicated he plans to focus on treatment and recovery while spending time with his family.
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