Former Senator Ben Sasse shared on Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The former two-term senator, now 53, revealed in a long social media message that he learned about the illness last week. “This is a hard note to write, but since many of you have already sensed something, I’ll get straight to it: Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and I am going to die,” Sasse wrote. He went on to describe advanced pancreatic cancer as “brutal” and called it a death sentence, adding that mortality is something everyone carries.“I’m fortunate to have incredible siblings and half a dozen friends who are truly like brothers to me. As one of them said, ‘Yes, you’re on the clock, but all of us are.’ Death is a cruel thief, and none of us escape it,” he added.The Nebraska Republican also wrote, “I’ll have more to share. I’m not giving up without a fight.”Ben Sasse Diagnosed With Stage 4 CancerFormer senator and former University of Florida president Ben Sasse announced on Tuesday, Dec. 23, that he has been diagnosed with terminal stage 4 cancer, as per CNN News.In the deeply personal message, the former Republican lawmaker from Nebraska described the diagnosis as a “death sentence,” while expressing appreciation for the steady support of his family and close friends.Ben Sasse: What Happens In Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer?Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, also known as metastatic pancreatic cancer, means the disease has spread beyond the pancreas to distant organs such as the liver, lungs, or the lining of the abdomen. At this advanced stage, the cancer is generally considered incurable, and care focuses on prolonging life and easing symptoms like pain, weight loss, and jaundice through palliative treatment, with the goal of preserving quality of life, as per Cleveland Clinic.Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer: How Do Pancreatic And Prostate Cancer Survival Rates Compare?Pancreatic cancer has a far poorer survival outlook than prostate cancer, largely because it is usually detected late and has fewer effective treatment options. Most men diagnosed with prostate cancer that has not spread survive at least five years, while pancreatic cancer is often found at an advanced stage, where long-term survival is uncommon.According to the American Cancer Society, pancreatic cancer makes up about 3 percent of all cancers in the United States but accounts for roughly 8 percent of cancer-related deaths. Most patients are diagnosed at Stage 4, and the disease is widely regarded as largely incurable. Prostate cancer, by contrast, is the second most common cancer among men, and the majority of those diagnosed do not die from it. The five-year relative survival rate for non-metastasized prostate cancer is 97.9 percent, dropping to about 38 percent once it spreads. These figures highlight how early detection and effective treatment options make prostate cancer far more survivable than pancreatic cancer.Recent news has included diagnoses such as Ben Sasse’s terminal pancreatic cancer, as well as public figures like John Eimen, who died from prostate cancer. These cases draw attention to the difficulty of detecting pancreatic cancer early, since there are few reliable screening tools before symptoms appear. Prostate cancer, in contrast, often progresses slowly, and with regular screening and multiple treatment options, many men live for decades after diagnosis.Ben Sasse: What Treatment Options Is Ben Sasse Pursuing For Stage-Four Pancreatic Cancer?While treatments including chemotherapy, radiation, and in rare situations surgery are available, stage-four pancreatic cancer is still considered largely incurable. The absence of effective early screening contributes to delayed diagnosis, and although a small number of patients, such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, have lived longer following surgery, these cases are rare. Well-known individuals including Alex Trebek and Aretha Franklin also battled the disease, which remains one of the deadliest cancers in the United States.