Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, currently undergoing treatment

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, announced over the weekend that she has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

In a statement posted to X on Sunday, Lee, 74, said that her doctors have confirmed pancreatic cancer and that she is being treated.

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

Jackson Lee has been in office since 1995 representing Texas' 18th District in the House of Representatives. Now in her 15th term in Congress, Jackson Lee is a member of the House judiciary, homeland security and budget committees and is a member of the judiciary subcommittee on crime, terrorism and homeland security.

In her statement, Jackson Lee made no mention of stepping down, writing that she is instead "committed to working with our Congressional leadership including Leader Hakeem Jefferies and the Speaker of the House to serve this nation and be present for votes on legislation that is critical for the prosperity and security of the American people."

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What is the survival rate of pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the pancreas, an organ that lies behind the lower part of the stomach and makes enzymes that help digest food and manage blood sugar.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common type is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, which begins in the cells that line ducts that carry digestive enzymes out of the pancreas.

Pancreatic cancer is rarely found in the early stages because it does not cause symptoms until after it has spread to other organs.

The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is about 13%, according to the American Cancer Society, based on the combined surveillance, epidemiology and end results treatment stages. Pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancers in the United States and about 7% of all cancer deaths, the American Cancer Society reports.

The disease claimed the lives of Jerry Springer, Alex Trebek, Aretha Franklin, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and other public figures.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee diagnosed with pancreatic cancer