Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Texas Democrat, says she has pancreatic cancer

HOUSTON– Former US Representative Sheila Jackson Lee has announced that she has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is undergoing treatment.

The Texas Democrat, who is seeking a 16th term, said in a statement late Sunday that as a member of Congress, she has the honor of being a leader in the fight for justice and equality and that she will approach this more personal struggle with faith and courage.

“I am confident that my doctors have developed the best possible plan to address my specific illness,” said Jackson Lee. “The road ahead will not be easy, but I have faith that God will strengthen me.”

Jackson Lee said it is likely she will be absent from Congress at times as she undergoes treatment, but that her office will continue to serve constituents. She said she is committed to working with congressional leaders to be present for the votes.

Jackson Lee first took office in 1995 and won the Democratic nomination in March, just months later losing a bid to become mayor of Houston. She had been trying to become the first black female mayor of the nation’s fourth-largest city. Jackson Lee’s district includes downtown Houston and some of the city’s historically black neighborhoods.