• Former Senator Ben Sasse announced his diagnosis of terminal stage-four pancreatic cancer.
• Sasse outlined his emotional journey and views on life and death in his social media post.
• He criticized political tribalism and was a notable critic of former President Trump.
• Sasse served in the Senate from 2015 to 2023 before briefly being president of the University of Florida.
• His family consists of three children, and he spoke about closer family ties amid his diagnosis.

Ben Sasse, former U.S. Senator from Nebraska, announced on social media that he has been diagnosed with terminal stage-four pancreatic cancer. At 53, he revealed this distressing news after receiving the diagnosis last week, declaring in his post, "Advanced pancreatic is nasty stuff; it’s a death sentence," according to CBS News and The Hill.

Sasse emphasized his commitment to living life fully despite the diagnosis. He stated, "I’m not going down without a fight" and highlighted the progress in cancer research, mentioning immunotherapy advancements. He noted that "death and dying aren’t the same," reflecting on the importance of cherishing life during difficult times, according to BBC and Reuters.

During his Senate tenure from 2015 to 2023, Sasse was known for his vocal critiques of political tribalism, particularly regarding the former president. Notably, he was among the seven Republicans who voted to convict Trump for incitement of insurrection following the Capitol riots. Sasse’s political career has been marked by moments of strong opposition to party lines, as detailed in Los Angeles Times and CBS News.

After stepping away from the Senate in February 2023 to take over as president of the University of Florida, he departed from that role in July 2024 due to his wife’s health issues. Sasse, a father of three, stated he is focusing on family during this challenging time, sharing his reflections and experiences in light of his diagnosis, as reported by Reuters and The Hill.