Democratic U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas announced Sunday night that she was undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer but assured her constituents that she would soon make a full recovery.
Jackson Lee, 74, has represented Texas’ 18th Congressional District for 30 years.
“My doctors have diagnosed me with pancreatic cancer,” Jackson Lee said in a statement. “I am currently undergoing treatment to combat this disease that affects tens of thousands of Americans each year.”
“I trust my doctor to have the best plan for my specific disease,” she continued. “The road ahead will not be easy, but I believe God will give me strength.”
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Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee announced Sunday night that she is undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer. (Reuters/Erin Scott)
The congresswoman said she “may occasionally be absent from Congress” while undergoing treatment, but stressed that her office will continue to provide the services to constituents they “deserve and expect.”
“I am committed to working with our congressional leadership, including Leader Hakeem Jeffries and the Speaker of the House, to serve this country and attend votes on legislation that is critical to the prosperity and security of the American people,” she said. . “By God’s grace, I will recover soon. “
Jackson Lee previously battled breast cancer, being diagnosed in 2011 and announcing she was cancer-free the following year.
The Democrat served as a judge before being elected to the Houston City Council in 1989.
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Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee said she “may occasionally miss Congress” while undergoing treatment. (Marcus Ingram/Getty Images)
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She announced she would seek re-election in Congress after her unsuccessful bid for mayor of Houston last year, losing by a wide margin to then-state Sen. John Whitmire, a Democrat.
“My faith in God, love for humanity and commitment to public service have defined my adult life,” Jackson Lee said Sunday. “As a member of Congress, I am honored to be a leader in the fight for justice and equality for all. One of the most vulnerable, especially the disadvantaged and dispossessed. Today, my fight is more personal, but I will do so with the same conviction and the same courage.
“As always, please keep me and my family in your prayers. Know that you will stay with me,” she concluded. “As always, God bless you and God bless the United States of America.”
