Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas announced Sunday night that she is undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer but assured constituents that she will soon make a full recovery.
Jackson Lee, 74, has represented Texas’ 18th Congressional District for 30 years.
“My doctors have confirmed that I have pancreatic cancer,” Jackson Lee said in a statement. “I am currently undergoing treatment to fight this disease that affects tens of thousands of Americans each year.”
“I am confident that my doctors have the best plan to treat my particular illness,” she continued. “The road ahead will not be easy, but I trust that God will make me strong.”
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Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee announced Sunday night that she is undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer. (Reuters/Erin Scott)
The congressman said he “may be absent from Congress from time to time” because of his treatment, but stressed that his office would continue to provide the services his constituents “deserve and expect.”
“I am committed to working with congressional leadership, including Majority Leader Akeem Jeffries and the Speaker of the House, to serve this country and be present for votes on legislation that is vital to the prosperity and security of the American people,” she said. “By God’s grace, I will soon be back to full strength.”
Jackson Lee was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 and announced she was cured the following year, after battling the disease.
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 be absent from Congress at times” as she undergoes treatment. (Marcus Ingram/Getty Images)
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She ran for mayor of Houston last year in a landslide defeat to then-state Sen. John Whitmire, also a Democrat, after which she announced she would seek reelection to Congress.
“My adult life has been defined by my faith in God, my love for humanity and my dedication to public service,” Jackson Lee said Sunday. “As a member of Congress, I have been honored to be one of the leaders in the fight for justice and equality for all people, especially those who are less fortunate and disenfranchised. Today, my fight has become more personal, but I approach it with the same conviction and courage.”
“Please, as always, please pray for me and my family and know that you are always in my heart,” she concluded. “As always, may God bless you and may God bless the United States of America.”
