Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, had announced a short time ago that she has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She died on Friday, July 19th amid her battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 74.
Jackson Lee, represented Congressional District 18, a seat she has held for 30 years. In March, she defeated challenger Amanda Edwards, a former Houston City Councilwoman, in the most competitive primary of her congressional career. Prior to the March primary, Jackson Lee had only drawn four primary challengers, and she defeated all of them by significant margins. She’s been in Congress since 1995.
The incidence of pancreatic cancer is higher in African Americans than in any other racial group in the United States. The age-adjusted incidence rate for Blacks is 15.9 per 100,000 people, while for Whites it is 13.4 per 100,000 people.
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