Former Senator Shares His Diagnosis
Former Republican Senator Ben Sasse revealed on Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, describing it as a “death sentence.”
In a heartfelt social media post, the Nebraskan stated, “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.”
The father of three mentioned that he had “temporarily stepped back from public life” over the past year due to concerns about his wife’s health, who has been dealing with epilepsy and memory issues.
Sasse expressed his feelings about facing this diagnosis: “This is hard for someone wired to work and build, but harder still as a husband and a dad.”
He reflected on the support from his family during this challenging time: “I can’t begin to describe how great my people are. During the past year, as we’d temporarily stepped back from public life and built new family rhythms, Melissa and I have grown even closer — and that on top of three decades of the best friend a man could ever have.”
Sasse, 53, previously served as president of Midland University in Nebraska before being elected to the Senate in 2014. After winning reelection in 2020, he resigned in 2023 to become president of the University of Florida.
During his time in the Senate, he was known for being one of the few Republicans who openly criticized President Trump during his first term.
Sasse’s former colleagues have expressed their condolences following his announcement. Senator John Cornyn from Texas remarked, “Thanks for reminding us, Ben: It is how we live, not how long we live that counts.”
Despite his diagnosis, Sasse remains determined not to give up easily. He noted advancements in medical science: “One sub-part of God’s grace is found in the jawdropping advances science has made the past few years in immunotherapy and more. 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.”
