Susie Wiles describes cancer treatment while leading White House

Treatment and work

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has described undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer while continuing to lead President Donald Trump’s White House staff. In a Sunday opinion article for USA Today, she said the disease and questions about treatment, test results and the future occupied her thoughts throughout the day and sometimes disrupted her sleep.

Wiles said some days required all her energy to get out of bed, dress and report to work. On many days, she carried the demands of both cancer treatment and her White House responsibilities.

Treatment affected her stamina, movement and ability to focus, Wiles said. She could not always attend everything she wanted to, and colleagues inside and outside the White House took on additional responsibilities. Her two daughters, extended family, friends and medical team also supported her.

Recovery after surgery

Wiles said work gave her a purpose beyond medical appointments, scans and treatment side effects. Remaining focused on people who depended on her helped preserve her identity outside the illness, even as she recognized that others might question whether she could continue leading effectively.

She also said working during cancer treatment is not possible or appropriate for everyone. Her account described her own decision to remain in the job rather than presenting that choice as a standard for other patients.

After surgery, pathology testing found no remaining cancer, Wiles wrote. She said she is now working to rebuild the physical and mental capacities affected by chemotherapy. In a separate post on X, she said she shared the experience in hopes of helping others still undergoing cancer treatment.