Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee Announces Cancer Diagnosis
Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She announced her diagnosis on social media, indicating that she will likely be "occasionally absent from Congress" while undergoing treatment. Jackson Lee, who has represented Texas' 18th Congressional District for 30 years, assured her constituents that her office will continue to provide essential services during her absence.
Jackson Lee is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and has been a prominent figure in Texas politics for decades. Her diagnosis follows a series of health issues among House lawmakers, including a serious form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2022 and a potentially fatal form of blood cancer in 2023. Pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancers in the United States.
