The short answer
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg faced cancer repeatedly over two decades: colon cancer in 1999, early pancreatic cancer in 2009, lung nodules in 2018, and a return of pancreatic cancer from 2019 onward. She kept working through treatment and died of metastatic pancreatic cancer on September 18, 2020, at age 87.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was treated for early-stage colon cancer in 1999.
In 2009 she was treated for early-stage pancreatic cancer, and in 2018 had cancerous lung nodules removed.
In 2019 a routine blood test led to the discovery that pancreatic cancer had returned.
She continued her work on the Supreme Court through repeated rounds of treatment.
Choose how you want to understand this
The full explanation.
Who she was
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a United States Supreme Court Justice, a pioneering advocate for gender equality, and a cultural icon admired far beyond the legal world. She was also, for more than two decades, a cancer patient — someone who faced the disease repeatedly and kept working through it. Her medical history is a remarkable illustration of both the persistence of cancer and the endurance of a person living with it.
The diagnosis
Ginsburg's cancer story spans years. In 1999, six years into her time on the Court, she was treated for early-stage colon cancer. A decade later, in 2009, she was treated for early-stage pancreatic cancer, caught while still small. In December 2018, doctors removed two cancerous nodules from her lung. Then, in July 2019, a routine blood test led to a biopsy that revealed a tumor on her pancreas — the cancer had returned.
In July 2020 she shared that she had been receiving chemotherapy since February for cancerous lesions on her liver, a sign that the pancreatic cancer had spread. Through all of it, she was known for continuing her work with striking determination.
The story
What set Ginsburg apart was not only how often she faced cancer but how she carried on. She underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation over the years while rarely stepping away from her duties on the Supreme Court, often returning to the bench soon after treatment. She spoke openly about staying engaged with her work as a source of strength.
Her final illness was metastatic pancreatic cancer — cancer that had spread from the pancreas to her liver. She died of complications from that disease on September 18, 2020, at age 87, prompting an outpouring of tributes and a renewed public focus on pancreatic cancer.
What her story teaches
Ginsburg's history touches several cancers. Her 1999 colon cancer is a reminder of the value of catching disease early; today, colorectal cancer screening can find this cancer, or the polyps that lead to it, before symptoms appear. Her 2018 lung nodules and her repeated bouts show how a history of cancer calls for careful, ongoing follow-up.
But the throughline of her later years was pancreatic cancer, which she survived in an early form in 2009 only to see it return a decade later. Her 2019 diagnosis is notable because it came from a routine blood test rather than obvious symptoms — a reminder that regular medical follow-up matters, especially for someone with a cancer history. Metastatic pancreatic cancer remains hard to cure, but treatment can help control it, and Ginsburg's ability to keep working through years of therapy shows that a serious diagnosis does not always mean stepping away from a meaningful life.
Cancer Explained is a free, ad-free educational project. If Ruth Bader Ginsburg's story helped make these diseases feel more understandable, you can help keep clear cancer information free for patients and families everywhere by supporting our work.
The bottom line
Ruth Bader Ginsburg faced colon cancer, early pancreatic cancer, and lung nodules over two decades, kept working through repeated treatment, and ultimately died of metastatic pancreatic cancer in 2020 at age 87. Her story shows both how cancer can recur and how someone can live and contribute fully while facing it — and it highlights the value of screening and ongoing follow-up.
This article summarizes publicly reported information; details may evolve. Spotted an error? Please email [email protected].
Words to know
Tap any term to see what it means.
Common questions
▸What kinds of cancer did Ruth Bader Ginsburg have?
Over about 20 years she was treated for colon cancer (1999), early-stage pancreatic cancer (2009), and cancerous nodules in her lung (2018). In 2019 pancreatic cancer returned, and it was metastatic pancreatic cancer — cancer that had spread — that ultimately caused her death in 2020.
▸How were her cancers found?
Several were caught during checkups and follow-up scans. Notably, in July 2019 a routine blood test led to a biopsy that revealed a tumor on her pancreas. Regular medical follow-up, especially for someone with a cancer history, can catch problems that cause no obvious symptoms.
▸Did she keep working while being treated?
Yes. Ginsburg was known for continuing her Supreme Court duties through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, rarely missing work. Many patients do keep working during treatment, though how much is possible depends on the person, the cancer, and the therapy.
▸What does metastatic pancreatic cancer mean?
It means pancreatic cancer that has spread beyond the pancreas to other parts of the body, such as the liver. Cancer that spreads is still named for where it started, so pancreatic cancer in the liver is still pancreatic cancer. Metastatic pancreatic cancer is difficult to cure, though treatment can help control it.
Questions to ask your doctor
Being prepared helps you get the most out of your appointments. Save or print these questions.
Tap a question to save it to your list (kept on this device).
How this page was created
Cancer Explained uses AI to organize and translate information from the authoritative sources cited on each page. Automated checks review claims, citations, clarity, duplication, and potential safety concerns before publication. Our content is not currently reviewed by physicians unless a specific qualified reviewer is named on the page. Cancer Explained provides general education and should not replace advice from your healthcare team.
Human medical review: not completed. At this time, most Cancer Explained content has not been reviewed by a physician or other healthcare professional. Pages with documented human medical review identify the reviewer, credentials, and review date directly.
Read more about our editorial process, our use of AI, and our corrections policy.
Spotted a problem? Report an error — a factual mistake, broken or outdated source, confusing wording, or anything that seems unsafe. Please do not include names, medical record numbers, dates of birth, addresses, or other identifying medical information in your report.
After using this page, do you understand what to do next?
Anonymous — we only record the answer, never who gave it.