Susie Wiles says breast cancer gave her ‘deeper appreciation’ for life

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles says her recent battle with breast cancer gave her a “deeper appreciation” for her purpose in life.

In an exclusive essay for USA TODAY, Wiles opened up about her experience navigating cancer treatment while continuing to serve as one of President Donald Trump’s most trusted aides during a tumultuous period in his second term.

Wiles was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in mid-March. After six months of treatment, she said Sept. 16 that doctors declared her cancer-free.

“The balance was not easy. There were days when strength just meant fighting the disease with all I had,” Wiles wrote in the piece, published Sept. 27.

She said her work at the White House helped carry her through difficult periods of her cancer journey.

“It reminded me that I was still myself – and that my life was about more than my disease,” she said.

When she was first diagnosed, Wiles said that “nearly one in eight women in the United States" would face similar breast cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, citing statistics from the American Cancer Society.

“These women continue to raise their families, go to work, and serve their communities with strength and…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/