Ben Sasse announces ‘death sentence’ pancreatic cancer diagnosis
Ben Sasse announced on X that he has been diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer and acknowledged, bluntly, that he’s “gonna die.” The former Republican senator from Nebraska (2015-2023) who briefly served as University of Florida president in 2023 said the diagnosis is effectively a death sentence, though he stressed faith, that he won’t “go down without a fight,” and that he intends to speak more about his situation later. Sasse described having less time than he’d like, emphasized growing closer to his wife Melissa and their three children, and said the family is embracing gallows humor while preparing for treatment. He also asked for peace for his family as they face the holidays.Reports noted he will continue to receive a University of Florida salary through 2028.
Ben Sasse announces stage four pancreatic cancer diagnosis: ‘It’s a death sentence’
Former Republican Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse announced his terminal cancer diagnosis in a social media post Tuesday.
Sasse said he has stage four pancreatic cancer, and declared that he’s “gonna die.”
“Friends,” he wrote on X, “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. Advanced pancreatic is nasty stuff; it’s a death sentence. But I already had a death sentence before last week too — we all do.”
Sasse was a Republican senator for Nebraska from 2015 to 2023. He became the University of Florida’s president in February 2023, before stepping down in July 2024, citing his wife’s epilepsy diagnosis.
“I’ve got less time than I’d prefer. This is hard for someone wired to work and build, but harder still as a husband and a dad,” he wrote, then describing growing closer to his wife and his children.
He said he felt there was never a good time to announce the diagnosis, but that “the season of advent isn’t the worst.” Sasse professed his faith, but noted he wasn’t “going down without a fight,” and that he would have more to say in the future.
“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,” he said.
BEN SASSE WILL RECEIVE SALARY FROM UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA THROUGH 2028
“But for now, as our family faces the reality of treatments, but more importantly as we celebrate Christmas, we wish you peace.”
Sasse has three children with his wife, Melissa.
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