Ben Sasse's Cancer Diagnosis
Ben Sasse. Source: Wikimedia Commons
Former US Senator, Ben Sasse, has recently revealed in a lengthy, emotional post on social media platform X, that he has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He shared that his diagnosis was “a death sentence” and wished that he had more time.
Who is Ben Sasse?
Sasse formerly represented Nebraska in the US Senate and was in congress from 2015 to 2023. He was also one of seven Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald Trump during the second impeachment trial of Trump, following the Capitol riot in January 2021. However, the Senate eventually decided against Trump’s removal from office.
After leaving the Senate, Sasse went on to serve as the thirteenth president of the University of Florida. He eventually stepped down after a year due to personal reasons, citing concerns over his wife’s health. However, Sasse’s tenure was also marred by allegations of wasteful spending and weak financial oversight, as audits raised concerns about financial mismanagement and lack of controls in his office. While Sasse denied these allegations, the university eventually tightened rules on presidential spending.
Ben Sasse’s diagnosis
Sasse was diagnosed with advanced stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He shared that his cancer has metastasized and he does not have much longer to live. Sasse wrote on X on December 23 2025, “Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die. Advanced pancreatic is nasty stuff; it’s a death sentence.”
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers. It is difficult to diagnose early and has a poor prognosis.
Ben Sasse’s reaction to his diagnosis
Sasse is married and has three kids. He shared that he was grateful for the people around him and their support, even though he was hesitant to break the news of his cancer to his family. “There’s not a good time to tell your peeps you’re now marching to the beat of a faster drummer — but the season of advent isn’t the worst. As a Christian, the weeks running up to Christmas are a time to orient our hearts toward the hope of what’s to come,” he wrote.
Despite his terminal diagnosis, Sasse remained resolved and hopeful. He shared, “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. 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.”