Ben Sasse, living with cancer, sees an opportunity in living on a deadline
Summary
Ben Sasse, a former U.S. senator, was diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer and is now living longer than doctors expected thanks to a new drug in a clinical trial. He reflects on his life, encourages more honest self-reflection, and calls for serious national discussions about important issues like artificial intelligence and the future of work.Key Facts
- Ben Sasse was diagnosed with stage-four pancreatic cancer in late 2023.
- Doctors initially gave him three to four months to live, but he has already outlived that estimate.
- He is participating in a clinical trial for a drug called daraxonrasib, which blocks a defective gene that causes cancer cells to grow.
- The drug has reduced Sasse’s tumor size by 76% and lowered his pain levels.
- Recent drug trial results show patients live about 13 months on daraxonrasib versus six months on chemotherapy.
- Sasse is a former Republican senator from Nebraska who resigned in 2023 to lead the University of Florida.
- He urges Congress to focus less on political fights and more on long-term challenges like AI and changing job markets.
- Sasse calls for Americans to strengthen their local communities rather than fixate on national political divisions.
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