Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Long Experience With Cancer

On screen

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lived with cancer over many years while continuing her work on the Court. She was treated for colon cancer in 1999 and for early-stage pancreatic cancer a decade later, in 2009. She faced further health challenges in the years that followed and died in September 2020 at age 87. She often spoke of returning to the bench after treatment, and she became, among many other things, an example of someone who worked while living with cancer.

The reality

The National Cancer Institute explains that pancreatic cancer can develop from two kinds of cells in the pancreas. The more common (exocrine) type is often found at an advanced stage; the less common neuroendocrine type tends to have a better outlook. NCI notes that Justice Ginsburg's pancreatic cancer was caught early, during a routine checkup — before it caused symptoms.

Her earlier cancer was colorectal. NCI explains that colorectal cancer often begins as a growth called a polyp inside the colon or rectum, and that finding and removing polyps can help prevent this cancer. Two different cancers, in two different organs, are exactly that — separate diagnoses, not one cancer spreading.

What the story gets right — and what to remember

Justice Ginsburg's story shows that people can live and work for years after a cancer diagnosis. But her experience was her own. Outcomes depend on the specific cancer, when it is found, and many individual factors. Her story is a source of learning and encouragement, not a prediction for anyone else and not medical advice.

Awareness, screening & prevention

For pancreatic cancer, NCI states it does not have evidence-based information about prevention or screening — there is no recommended routine screening test for the general public. For colorectal cancer, the picture is different: NCI does offer screening information, and screening can find polyps before they become cancer, or find cancer early. Colorectal cancer screening is one of the clearer examples of how early detection can make a difference.

Turning a story into something useful

Justice Ginsburg's willingness to keep working through treatment brought quiet visibility to life with cancer. A useful response is to learn the facts, understand that some cancers have recommended screening while others do not, and talk with a care team about what is right for you. Supporting free, trustworthy cancer education helps more people find clear answers.

Questions to ask a healthcare team

• Which colorectal cancer screening options are right for me, and when should I start?
• What does it mean when a cancer is found early versus at a later stage?
• If I have a family history of cancer, does that change what I should do?
• Where can I find reliable, plain-language information about these cancers?