Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee diagnosed with pancreatic cancer

Democratic US congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee revealed that she has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and said her treatment may require her to be “occasionally absent” from Capitol Hill.

In a prepared statement published on X on Sunday that alluded to her Christian religious beliefs, the 74-year-old Texas representative acknowledged that “the road ahead will not be easy” yet added: “I stand in faith that God will strengthen me.”

Pancreatic cancer is often fatal, but Jackson Lee – whose mainly liberal district encompasses a part of Houston – did not delve into the specifics of her prognosis.

Her statement said she was “undergoing treatment to battle this disease that [affects] tens of thousands of Americans every year”. And it also said: “I am confident that my doctors have developed the best possible plan to target my specific disease.

“Please keep me and my family in your prayers as you have always done. Know that you will remain in mine.”

Jackson Lee has been in Congress since 1995. In March, she staved off an intraparty challenge from former congressional intern Amanda Edwards, capturing 60% of the votes cast in the overwhelmingly liberal district.

Her primary victory set the stage for her to run for re-election against Republican Lana Centonze in November, when her opponent’s party will try to hold on to a thin majority in the US House.

Jackson Lee leaned on her tenure and popularity in her congressional district to run for mayor of Houston in December. But she lost to former Texas Republican state senaor John Whitmire by a margin of 65% to about 35%.

The Congressional Black Caucus member filed for re-election to her seat a couple of days after her defeat to Whitmire.

Jackson Lee was one of a handful of Congressional Black Caucus members who was arrested in Washington DC in the summer of 2021 while protesting delays in passing legislation to protect voting rights.

She was demonstrating outside the Hart Senate office building alongside other protesters at the time of her arrest.

“Any action that is a peaceful action of civil disobedience is worthy and more – to push all of us to do better,” Jackson Lee, whose state is one of the hardest places to vote in the US, said at the time.

In her statement Sunday, Jackson Lee said she was committed to working with her fellow Democrat and House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries – as well as the chamber’s Republican speaker, Mike Johnson – “to be present for votes on legislation that is critical for the prosperity and security of the American people”.

“By God’s grace, I will be back at full strength soon,” Jackson Lee’s statement said.