Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee announces she has pancreatic cancer

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democrat representing Texas’ 18th Congressional District, announced Sunday that she has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

The 74-year-old said it’s “likely” that she shall be “absent at times” during treatment, but assured voters that her office “will continue to provide the essential services you deserve and expect,” in an announcement shared with the corporate ESSENCE via email.

“I’m confident that my doctors have come up with the best possible treatment plan for my specific condition,” she said. “The road ahead will not be easy, but I believe that God will strengthen me.”

Jackson Lee’s district covers parts of Houston, and she has been its representative for nearly 30 years. He serves on the Justice, Homeland Security and Budget committees.

More than a decade ago, in 2012, Jackson Lee revealed that she was treated for breast cancer with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, and made a full recovery. Since then, her work in Congress has included increasing funding for breast cancer research by tens of millions of dollars.

“Please keep me and my family in your prayers, as you have always done,” she wrote within the message. “Know that in mine you remain.”