YouTube recently shared a moving letter from its former CEO, Susan Wojcicki, three months after her passing from lung cancer at the age of 56 on November 25. The letter, written just weeks before her death, was released to mark Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
In her message, Wojcicki reflected on her battle with the disease and stressed the urgent need for better treatment options, highlighting that lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women.
“At the end of 2022, I was diagnosed with lung cancer. I had almost no symptoms and was running a few miles daily at the time. As a non-smoker, the diagnosis came as a complete shock. That moment changed my life entirely. I chose to step down as YouTube’s CEO to prioritize my health and family. Thanks to modern medicine, I was able to maintain a nearly normal life,” she wrote.
Appreciating the present and pushing for progress
After stepping down, Wojcicki continued contributing to the boards of companies like Salesforce, Planet Labs, and Waymo. She shared how her illness reshaped her outlook on life and inspired her advocacy efforts.
“Living with cancer hasn’t been easy. It has profoundly changed me, teaching me to cherish the present and find beauty in everyday moments. Life is unpredictable for everyone, but these small joys are invaluable. My focus now is on living fully in the moment while advocating for better understanding and treatments for this disease,” she expressed.
Susan Wojcicki passed away on August 10 after a two-year battle with lung cancer. Her legacy continues through her efforts to raise awareness and promote advancements in cancer research and care.
