YouTube shares final blog post by late CEO Susan Wojcicki about lung cancer battle

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When Susan Wojcicki stepped down from YouTube’s helm in 2023, few knew what was going on behind closed doors. The tech pioneer’s final blog post reveals her private battle with lung cancer and leaves behind a powerful message about life's unexpected turns.

 

Published by YouTube on November 25, 2024, to mark Lung Cancer Awareness Month, the poignant message, entitled From Susan, offers a deeply personal glimpse into Wojcicki's journey with lung cancer, a disease that ultimately led to her passing in August 2024. 

 

Neal Mohan, YouTube’s current CEO, introduced the post by sharing Wojcicki’s wishes: “Susan wrote a post in the final weeks of her life that she planned to publish this fall,” Mohan noted. “November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and we’re taking this opportunity to carry on Susan’s mission to help others by publishing her blog.”

 

 

 

In the note, Wojcicki revealed her diagnosis at the end of 2022. Despite being a non-smoker and having no symptoms, she was confronted with the stark reality of lung cancer. The diagnosis prompted her resignation from YouTube in February 2023, as she chose to prioritize her health and family.

 

Still, even in her toughest moments, Wojcicki remained active in supporting cancer research, directing millions of dollars towards early detection initiatives, immunotherapy advancements, and fundamental research.

 

One of her key messages was aimed at increasing awareness about lung cancer’s surprising prevalence. “It is not well known that lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in women and the second most common cancer in women,” she wrote. “Although lung cancer overall is decreasing because of declines in tobacco use, lung cancer among people who have never smoked has been rising significantly, and two-thirds of people diagnosed with no smoking history are women.”

 

She concluded her message with a reminder about the importance of the present:

 

Quote

Having cancer hasn’t been easy. As a person I have changed a lot, and probably the most important lesson I have learned is just to focus and enjoy the present! Life is unpredictable for everyone, with many unknowns, but there is a lot of beauty in everyday life. My goals going forward are to enjoy the present as much as possible and fight for better understanding and cures for this disease.

 

Her words are an indication of her resilience, urging others to find beauty in the everyday, even when facing the unknown.

 

• https://www.businessinsider.com/susan-wojcicki-youtube-ceo-posthumous-blog-cancer-diagnosis-lessons-2024-11 
• https://www.eonline.com/news/1410430/youtube-reveals-former-ceo-susan-wojcickis-final-message-before-her-death 
• https://www.cbsnews.com/news/former-youtube-ceo-susan-wojcicki-legacy-blog-post/ 

 

Image: YouTube