White House chief of staff Susie Wiles is "cancer free," she announced on X on Sept. 16, 2026. "Some personal news I'm grateful to share. After a medical appointment at the Mayo Clinic this week, my pathology results came back clear," she explained.
Wiles was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in March and told the New York Times that her prognosis was "strong." Wiles did not disclose at the time what treatment she would undergo, but said it would last several weeks — during which time she planned to continue working. Noting that one in eight American women develops breast cancer at some point in their lives, Wiles posted on X at the time: "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."
A breast cancer diagnosis is life-altering, but Wiles's comments highlighted the progress that's been made in recent years. Breast cancer is now detected at Stage 0 or 1 — before it has spread — in the majority of cases. Survival rates have risen dramatically, but "the treatments we use to treat early-stage breast cancer have become more tailored" and less disruptive to women's lives, Dr. Lynn Dengel, a University of Virginia surgical oncologist, told Yahoo in March.
"Because [Wiles] was taking care of her health [and getting screened], not only will her prognosis be better, but it will probably minimize what treatment she has to go through and will benefit her work-life and overall balance," Dengel said. She added that most of her patients are diagnosed early and can continue to work while undergoing breast cancer treatment, reducing the financial burden and overall disruption to their lives.
Wiles was diagnosed at age 68 — slightly older than the median age (62) when most women learn they have breast cancer. More than 380,000 American women are diagnosed with some form of breast cancer each year, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Breast cancer remains the most common form of cancer among women in the U.S., except for skin cancers. And rates are rising. But there's good news: More women are surviving the disease. Treatments have also improved, becoming tolerable enough that many women still work, as Wiles intends to do. Here's what to know about the disease, why rates are rising and how women can reduce their risks.
#breast #diagnosed
Wiles was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in March and told the New York Times that her prognosis was "strong." Wiles did not disclose at the time what treatment she would undergo, but said it would last several weeks — during which time she planned to continue working. Noting that one in eight American women develops breast cancer at some point in their lives, Wiles posted on X at the time: "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."
A breast cancer diagnosis is life-altering, but Wiles's comments highlighted the progress that's been made in recent years. Breast cancer is now detected at Stage 0 or 1 — before it has spread — in the majority of cases. Survival rates have risen dramatically, but "the treatments we use to treat early-stage breast cancer have become more tailored" and less disruptive to women's lives, Dr. Lynn Dengel, a University of Virginia surgical oncologist, told Yahoo in March.
"Because [Wiles] was taking care of her health [and getting screened], not only will her prognosis be better, but it will probably minimize what treatment she has to go through and will benefit her work-life and overall balance," Dengel said. She added that most of her patients are diagnosed early and can continue to work while undergoing breast cancer treatment, reducing the financial burden and overall disruption to their lives.
Wiles was diagnosed at age 68 — slightly older than the median age (62) when most women learn they have breast cancer. More than 380,000 American women are diagnosed with some form of breast cancer each year, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Breast cancer remains the most common form of cancer among women in the U.S., except for skin cancers. And rates are rising. But there's good news: More women are surviving the disease. Treatments have also improved, becoming tolerable enough that many women still work, as Wiles intends to do. Here's what to know about the disease, why rates are rising and how women can reduce their risks.
#breast #diagnosed
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