White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has been diagnosed with "early-stage breast cancer," President Donald Trump announced on Monday, March 16.
"(She) has decided to take on this challenge, IMMEDIATELY, as opposed to waiting. She has a fantastic medical team, and her prognosis is excellent," Trump said in a post on the social platform Truth Social. "During the treatment period, she will be spending virtually full time at the White House."
Finding breast cancer early is one of the best ways to prevent death from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.
"If breast cancer is found early, when it’s small and has not spread, it is easier to treat successfully," the organization notes. "Getting regular screening tests is the most reliable way to find breast cancer early."
What is early-stage breast cancer?
It is unclear what specfically Wiles has, but a common form of early-stage breast cancer is ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS, which affects the cells lining the milk duct. Often called “stage-zero breast cancer” or “precancer," DCIS doesn't spread outside the breast.
DCIS accounts for up to 25% of diagnosed breast cancers and affects more than 50,000 women each year, according to the American Cancer Society.
Recommended treatment typically includes surgery, radiation and hormone therapy, though a 2024 study found standard treatment protocol might not be necessary for some patients.
Surgery is typically a lumpectomy, where the tumor and a small amount of tissue are removed from the breast, Dr. Neil Iyengar, a breast medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, previously told USA TODAY. The aesthetic result is “usually quite good;" there may not even be a scar.
DCIS treatment has a high success rate, with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation reporting a 98% survival rate after 10 years.
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