Did you know that Fmr GOP Sen Ben Sasse has pancreatic cancer? He has cancer everywhere....

[LeftInTX]

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How Ben Sasse Is Living Now That He Is Dying

On December 23, 2025, Sasse announced that he had been diagnosed with terminal "stage-four pancreatic cancer".[125][126] In April 2026, during an interview with The New York Times, Sasse revealed that his cancer had spread to his liver, lymph nodes, lung and vascular system.[127] He also revealed that due to the oral cancer treatment he was receiving, he had visible facial scarring due to the treatment causing lack of skin growth and excessive bleeding.[127]

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/09/opinion/ben-sasse-death-pancreatic-cancer.html

[fujiyamasan]

1. Really sad situation, especially considering his age

Shocked to see his face in the video. Obviously not in agreement with a lot of his policy positions, but to his credit he was one of only six to vote in favor of impeachment after January 6 and has been critical of Trump.

[murielm99]

2. Cancer sucks.

He is a Republican, but it still sucks that he has cancer.

[LeftInTX]

3. I had no idea that he had cancer. This just popped up today.

[murielm99]

20. He does not have long.

I hope tsf is too busy with his other evils to say bad things about this man when his time is up. It would be just like him.

[LoisB]

4. How terrible. Peace and strength to him and his family.

[mahina]

5. I am very sorry to read of this. He is a good man, showed his decency and would not support this nonsense.

I swear I wonder if the poisoners poisoned him. He could have stayed and resisted but we never know what is behind decisions of others. He must have known. Wishing him as much comfort and as little pain as possible.

Rough cards.

[H2O Man]

6. Sad.

I don't wish cancer on anyone.

[Haggard Celine]

7. This must be the one Trump and Mike Johnson

were talking about the other day. Trump said something about the Senator having a month to live, I think, but the Senator hadn't divulged that information to the public. It was another shitty, thoughtless thing for Trump to do.

[fujiyamasan]

9. They were referring to rep Neal Dunn of Florida

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/16/trump-neal-dunn-florida-republican-health

[OAITW r.2.0]

8. Horrible situation for him. And knowing every day will be worse than the previous one.

Will be interesting to see how he may change his political/social perspective, given his terminal illness.

[sheshe2]

10. "The former senator wants to heal the America he's leaving behind."

I am sorry to hear this. His youngest, a boy, is only 14 years old.

I don't wish this on anyone.

[cstanleytech]

11. While he's an asshole for a number of his beliefs IMO I still offer him and his family my honest sympathies.

[DFW]

12. He's facing it in his own way. My dad went through that, too.

I could have done without all the religious parts, not because I don’t believe any of it, but rather because I thought it distracted from the best of the rest of his message.

My dad passed way before there were smart phones or podcasts. But as a respected journalist, and one who deliberately chose NOT to color his writing with a religious or ideological agenda, I found his farewell column to be my own inspiration to keep on. It appeared in his paper ten days before he died. I still go back and read it on occasion. I have posted it on DU on occasion. He was diagnosed in January of 2000. He died in November of that year, and did not have the advantage of a quarter century of advances in cancer treatment, nor the privileges a Senator (ex- not withstanding).

My dad passed at a very young age 78. My mom complained that his idea of retirement was going into Washington four days a week instead of five. It sounds like Sasse won’t even see 58. But whether I agree with them or not, I always read through articles like this with huge interest, even when presented by a pompous right-winger like Douthat. This is in no small part because my dad’s age of 78 when he died looked far off at the time. Now that I’m 74, it doesn’t seem so far away any more.

[LeftInTX]

13. Sasse is 54. I didn't know he had cancer, much less terminal cancer. It was kind of a shock.

It came out of the blue for me today.

[LeftInTX]

15. My dad died of cancer, but didn't tell anyone it was terminal.

Maybe he didn't know himself...Who knows? One day he didn't show up for work, he had collapsed and died two days later. He was 87.

He had prostate cancer for quite awhile and we knew it had gone to his hip bone about a year or two before he died. He had updated all of his wills etc.

[BaronChocula]

14. Life is one twisted lottery n/t

[hlthe2b]

16. I feel horrible for him... no one deserves this but Sasse was among those who was

at least "rational" comparatively in Congress and was quite young when he left.

At this stage, I am wishing he lived in a state that allowed for a peaceful and more pain-free end to his suffering (when the time comes). Until then, may he continue to find purpose and peace in his efforts.



On EDIT: I read the article and am very impressed with his ability to move through this horrific experience with such humor (however dark) and seeming positivity. I wish him the proverbial miracle that he deserves and that he can continue to find positive purpose in life despite the pain and trauma he has been dealt. But, yes, when that time comes, I hope he can be as pain-free as possible and possibly in a state that allows an end to the worst suffering.

[Grim Chieftain]

17. This breaks my heart

He's smiling during the interview - how does that happen? Wow. May his remaining days be filled with peace and comfort surrounded by those he loves.

May the angels light your way, Senator Sasse

[Polybius]

18. Yeah, I think I posted it in LBN about a month or two ago

It's so sad, he's so young. He was one of the better Republicans too. My former coworker had a huge crush on him when he was in the Senate.

[2naSalit]

19. Yikes...

My dad died of full on cancer of everything at 60. Started with cancer of his tongue and larynx and it was nasty but it took 10 years to kill him. He was Cared for by the VA.