Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) revealed she’s being treated for pancreatic cancer.

“My doctors have confirmed my diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. I am currently undergoing treatment to battle this disease that impacts tens of thousands of Americans every year,” Jackson Lee said in a statement.

“I am confident that my doctors have developed the best possible plan to target my specific disease. The road ahead will not be easy, but I stand in faith that God will strengthen me,” she continued.

Jackson Lee, 74, has represented Texas’ 18th congressional district for 30 years.

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Per Fox News:

The congresswoman said she will “likely be occasionally absent from Congress” as she undergoes treatment, but emphasized that her office will continue to deliver the constituent services they “deserve and expect.”

“I am committed to working with our Congressional Leadership including Leader Hakeem Jeffries and the Speaker of House to serve this nation and be present for votes on legislation that is critical for the prosperity and security of the American people,” she said. “By God’s grace, I will be back at full strength soon.”

Jackson Lee previously battled breast cancer, having been diagnosed in 2011 before announcing the following year she was cancer free.

The Democrat served as a judge before she was elected to an at-large Houston City Council seat in 1989.

CBS News reports:

Jackson Lee’s district includes parts of Houston and she has served as its representative for almost 30 years. She unsuccessfully ran for mayor of the city last year, but lost to then-State Senator John Whitmire, also a Democrat. She faced a primary challenge for her congressional seat this year, but won that contest easily.

Jackson Lee did not provide details on the severity of the cancer or what her treatment will be. Pancreatic cancer is not often found in the early stages and tends not to present symptoms until it has advanced, according to Mayo Clinic.

More than a decade ago, in 2012, Jackson Lee revealed that she had undergone treatment for breast cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, and had made a full recovery. Since then, her work in Congress has included securing millions of dollars in increased funding for breast cancer research.

 

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