Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, has announced she has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
“My doctors have confirmed my diagnosis of pancreatic cancer,” Rep. Jackson Lee, 74, said in a statement Sunday night. “I am currently undergoing treatment to battle this disease that impacts tens of thousands of Americans every year.”
Due to her upcoming treatments, Jackson Lee said she could occasionally miss legislative votes but she is “committed” to working with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on legislation that is “critical for the prosperity and security of the American people.”
“I am confident that my doctors have developed the best possible plan to target my specific disease,” Jackson Lee said in her statement. “The road ahead will not be easy, but I stand in faith that God will strengthen me.”
Sheila Jackson Lee attends the Praise In The Park concert at Buffalo Bayou Park on March 18, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images)
Marcus Ingram/Getty Images
According to the National Cancer Institute, non-Hispanic Black people are more likely to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It is the 10th most common form of the disease, which only impacts 1.7% of people in their lifetime.
The average age of diagnosis is