Former US Senator Ben Sasse shared a poignant and deeply personal post on social media on Tuesday, December 23, announcing his “metastatic stage-four pancreatic cancer” diagnosis.
“Last week I was diagnosed with metastatic, stage-four pancreatic cancer and I’m going to die. Advanced pancreas is ugly stuff; it’s a death sentence. But I already had a death sentence before last week too – we all do,” the 53-year-old wrote on his X (formerly known as Twitter).
Despite this diagnosis, Sasse vowed to fight, saying, “I’m not going down without a fight.”
“Part of God’s grace is found in the amazing advances science has made in the past few years in immunotherapy and more. Death and dying are not the same – the process of dying is still something to be lived. We zealously embrace a lot of gallows humor in our house, and I’ve promised to do my part,” he added.
Sasse was a notable figure within the Republican Party for his consistent, vocal criticism of US President Donald Trump, particularly after the January 6 capital riot.
Most importantly, he was one of only seven GOP senators who voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial.
In January 2023, he resigned from the Senate to lead the University of Florida. After a while, he left the role to take care of his wife, Melissa, after she was diagnosed with epilepsy.
The couple has three children.
Sasse ended his post on a note of resilience and dark humor, noting, “We zealously embrace a lot of gallows humor in our house, and I’ve promised to do my part to run through the reverent band.”
“Our family faces the reality of the treatments, but more importantly, as we celebrate Christmas, we wish you peace,” he added.
