Former US Sen. Ben Sasse has disclosed that he has been diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer, calling the disease terminal and acknowledging that he does not expect to live long.
The fifty three year old former Nebraska Republican shared the diagnosis Tuesday in a personal statement posted on the social media platform X, describing the cancer as metastatic and advanced.
“Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die,” Sasse wrote, adding that the reality has been especially difficult as a husband and father.
The announcement immediately drew responses from political leaders, academics and former colleagues across the ideological spectrum.
The Ben Sasse pancreatic cancer diagnosis places the former senator among a small but growing number of public figures who have openly discussed advanced pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of the disease.
Sasse was first elected to the US Senate in two thousand fourteen and won reelection in two thousand twenty. He built a reputation as a conservative intellectual and frequent critic of political polarization.
Following the January six, two thousand twenty one Capitol riot, Sasse was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict then President Donald Trump on a charge of incitement of insurrection.
Weeks after that vote, Sasse announced his resignation from the Senate to become president of the University of Florida.
His appointment prompted protests from some students and faculty members, who cited his opposition to same sex marriage and positions on LGBTQ issues, as well as concerns about his limited experience running a large public university.
Sasse stepped down from the university presidency in July two thousand twenty four after his wife, Melissa Sasse, was diagnosed with epilepsy. He remained affiliated with the university as a faculty member.
The Ben Sasse pancreatic cancer diagnosis now marks another major turning point in his personal life. Medical experts say stage four pancreatic cancer is typically characterized by metastasis to other organs, making curative treatment unlikely.
“Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed late because early symptoms are vague or absent,” said Dr. Laura Mendel, an oncologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital who was not involved in Sasse’s care.
At stage four, treatment focuses on extending life and improving quality rather than cure. Sasse referenced recent advances in immunotherapy and cancer research, expressing cautious hope about emerging treatments.
Experts note that while progress has been made, survival rates remain low compared with other major cancers. According to the American Cancer Society, pancreatic cancer has a five year survival rate of about three percent for patients diagnosed at stage four.
Overall, it remains the third leading cause of cancer related death in the United States, despite accounting for a smaller share of total cancer diagnoses.
“Unlike breast or prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer has not seen the same dramatic improvements in early detection,” said Dr. Samuel Ortiz, a cancer epidemiologist at the University of Michigan.
“That reality underscores why public awareness matters.” The Ben Sasse pancreatic cancer diagnosis has renewed attention on these statistics, particularly as more public figures speak openly about the disease.
In Nebraska, where Sasse launched his political career, reactions reflected a mix of concern and respect. “He didn’t always agree with everyone, but people here knew he took his role seriously,” said Mark Ellison, a Lincoln based small business owner.
“Hearing this news hits hard, regardless of politics.” At the University of Florida, faculty members also responded.
“Whatever disagreements existed during his presidency, this is a deeply human moment,” said Dr. Karen Liu, a professor of sociology. “Serious illness puts everything else into perspective.”
Sasse said he plans to continue fighting the disease while remaining engaged with his family and work as long as his health allows.
He described embracing humor at home and emphasized that, in his view, dying is still “something to be lived.”
Medical professionals caution that the course of advanced pancreatic cancer varies by patient, depending on overall health and response to treatment.
Public disclosures like the Ben Sasse pancreatic cancer diagnosis may also contribute to broader conversations about end of life care, medical research funding and patient support.
Ben Sasse’s announcement offers a rare and candid look at life following a terminal cancer diagnosis from a former national political figure.
His disclosure adds to public understanding of pancreatic cancer while marking a personal chapter shaped by illness, family and reflection.
As treatment continues, his case underscores both the limits of current medicine and the enduring human dimensions of serious disease.
