Former U.S. Senator Ben Sasse revealed on Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic pancreatic cancer. The 53-year-old Nebraska Republican described the diagnosis as a 'death sentence' but emphasized his faith and determination to fight. Sasse shared the news in a lengthy post on X, reflecting on family and his Christian beliefs during the Advent season.
Ben Sasse, who served two terms as a Republican senator from Nebraska from 2015 to 2023, announced his diagnosis on December 23, 2025, via a social media post on X. He received the news the previous week, writing: “Friends- 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.” Sasse, a 53-year-old husband and father of three, called advanced pancreatic cancer 'nasty stuff' and a 'death sentence,' adding, “But I already had a death sentence before last week too — we all do.”
After leaving the Senate in 2022, Sasse became president of the University of Florida, a role he stepped down from in July 2024 to focus on his family. Reports differ on his wife Melissa's health issues: one account describes her epilepsy diagnosis, while another mentions an aneurysm and series of strokes. Sasse continues to teach at the university's Hamilton Center. His earlier career included roles as a professor at the University of Texas, assistant secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services, and president of Midland University.
In the Senate, Sasse was known as a pro-life advocate, a critic of former President Donald Trump since 2016, and a proponent of a firm U.S. stance on China. As University of Florida president, he opposed anti-Israel protests following Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel, stating the school would 'draw a hard line at unlawful action.'
Sasse expressed the personal toll, saying, “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 drew on his Christian faith, noting the Advent season as a time to focus on hope beyond optimism: “As a Christian, the weeks running up to Christmas are a time to orient our hearts toward the hope of what’s to come.” Sasse plans to undergo treatment, including potential immunotherapy, and affirmed, “I’m not going down without a fight.” He and his family are embracing 'gallows humor' as they navigate the process, with Sasse adding, “Death and dying aren’t the same — the process of dying is still something to be lived.”
