Susie Wiles, the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff, has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Donald Trump announced the diagnosis last week, noting that Wiles plans to continue to work throughout her treatment.
“She has a fantastic medical team, and her prognosis is excellent! During the treatment period, she will be spending virtually full time at the White House, which makes me, as President, very happy!” wrote Trump in a Truth Social post. “Her Strength and her Commitment to continue doing the job she loves, and does so well, while undergoing treatment, tells you everything you need to know about her.”
Wiles, 68, shared that the cancer had been discovered in recent weeks and is in the early stages, according to Politico.Trump has described Wiles, an important, if low-key, figure in the West Wing as “one of my closest and most important advisors.”
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer (behind skin cancer) for women in the United States, accounting for one in every three female cancer diagnoses. It is also the second leading cause of cancer death in women (behind lung cancer).
ACS estimates that in 2026 more than 322,910 new cases of invasive breast cancer and over 60,730 new cases of non- or preinvasive breast cancer (ductal carcinoma in situ) will be diagnosed and about 42,140 women will die of the malignancy. Earlier detection and treatment can improve outcomes. Once the cancer has metastasized, or spread to other parts of the body, it is harder to treat, and survival rates are lower.
Breast self-exams are one way women can check for lumps or skin changes at home, and most health care associations recommend performing one monthly. However, self-exams should not replace regular breast screenings by a health care provider.
“Forty percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, so establishing a regular breast self-exam is very important,” said Lillie Shockney, MD, in a National Breast Cancer Foundation article.
To learn more about the risks, symptoms and treatment, check out Cancer Health’s basics on breast cancer. It reads, in part:
“How is breast cancer classified?
Breast cancer usually arises in ducts in the breast that produce milk. Other types start in the cells of the muscle, fat or connective tissue. Less common types include inflammatory breast cancer, Paget disease and angiosarcoma. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) means that the cancer has not yet spread. As it progresses, breast cancer can invade surrounding tissues and nearby lymph nodes. Metastatic, or Stage IV, breast cancer has spread elsewhere in the body, often affecting the liver, bones or brain.
Breast cancer is classified according to the types of receptors it expresses. A majority of breast tumors carry estrogen or progesterone receptors (hormone receptor positive) and can be treated with hormone therapy. Others express HER2 receptors and can be treated with HER2 inhibitors, such as Herceptin (trastuzumab). Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) does not express any of these receptors and is more difficult to treat.
What are the risk factors for breast cancer?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, besides being a woman and getting older, factors that increase one’s risk of developing breast cancer include:
• Genetic mutations (including BRCA1 and BRCA2)
• Family history of breast cancer
• Early onset of menstruation or early menopause
• No full-term pregnancies or first pregnancy at an older age
• Not being physically active
• Overweight or obesity, especially after menopause
• Use of oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy
• Previous radiation therapy
• Drinking alcohol.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
The most common sign of breast cancer is a lump or mass. A hard and painless mass is most likely to be malignant, but cancerous tumors can sometimes be tender, soft or painful. Other symptoms may include breast swelling, skin irritation or dimpling, breast or nipple pain, nipple retraction (turning inward), redness, scaliness or thickening of the nipples or skin of the breast and discharge from the nipple.”
Wiles addressed her breast cancer diagnosis in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Last week, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Nearly one in eight women in the United States will face this diagnosis. Every day, these women continue to raise their families, go to work, and serve their communities with strength and determination. I now join their ranks.
I am…
— Susie Wiles (@SusieWiles) March 16, 2026
“Nearly one in eight women in the United States will face this diagnosis. Every day, these women continue to raise their families, go to work, and serve their communities with strength and determination. I now join their ranks,” Wiles wrote. “I am grateful to have an outstanding team of doctors who detected the cancer early and are guiding my care, and I am encouraged by a very good prognosis.”
For more breast cancer news, check out #Breast Cancer.
