Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Pancreatic Cancer: Treatment History

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933–2020) was treated for pancreatic adenocarcinoma twice:

• 2009: Early‑stage (1 cm) tumor found incidentally during annual CT. Underwent laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy at Memorial Sloan Kettering. No adjuvant chemo (node‑negative, margins clear).
• 2019: Recurrence / new primary? Treated with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) (5 fractions) for a lesion on the pancreas. No surgery.

She also had:
• Colon cancer (1999) — surgery + chemo.
• Lung cancer (2018) — lobectomy (two nodules).
• Metastatic pancreatic cancer (2020) — treated with gemcitabine/abraxane; died Sept 18, 2020, from complications.

Key Clarification

She did have surgery for pancreatic cancer in 2009 (distal pancreatectomy). The 2019 recurrence was treated with radiation, not surgery. The statement “never underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer” is incorrect.

Her 11‑year survival after initial pancreatic cancer diagnosis was exceptional (median ~3–5 years for resected early‑stage).