‘Death is a wicked thief’: Former Sen. Ben Sasse says he has terminal stage-four cancer

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Former Republican Sen. Ben Sasse on Tuesday announced he has terminal stage-four pancreatic cancer.

The 53-year-old husband and father shared his diagnosis on X, saying it’s a “death sentence.”

“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 wrote.

He added that “advanced pancreatic is nasty stuff; it’s a death sentence.” He added that “death is a wicked thief, and the bast*** pursues us all.”

Sasse served as Nebraska’s U.S. senator from 2015 to 2023 before resigning in January 2023 to become president of the University of Florida.

FILE – In this Oct. 14, 2020 file photo, Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., speaks during the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Hilary Swift/The New York Times via AP, Pool, File)

He and his wife, Melissa, have three children, Corrie, Alex, and Breck.

“This is hard for someone wired to work and build, but harder still as a husband and a dad. 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,” he said.

“Seven months ago, Corrie was commissioned into the Air Force and she’s off at instrument and multi-engine rounds of flight school. Last week, Alex kicked butt graduating from college a semester early even while teaching gen chem, organic, and physics (she’s a freak). This summer, 14-year-old Breck started learning to drive. (Okay, we’ve been driving off-book for six years — but now we’ve got paper to make it street-legal.) I couldn’t be more grateful to constantly get to bear-hug this motley crew of sinners and saints,” he added.

Sasse told his followers he is “not going down without a fight” and is relying on his loved ones, as well as his Christian faith, for support.

He also said he and his family plan to enjoy Christmas — and urged everyone else to do the same.

“As we celebrate Christmas, we wish you peace,” he said, also quoting the Bible. “‘The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.For to us a son is given.'”