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The family of former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki is continuing her mission to raise awareness about lung cancer after her death at age 56, with a renewed effort focused on prevention and early detection.
Wojcicki, who died in 2024 after being diagnosed with lung cancer despite never having smoked, was described by her family as someone who experienced a sudden and unexpected illness. Her sister Anne Wojcicki said the diagnosis came as a complete shock, noting that Susan had shown no obvious warning signs such as coughing or fatigue. Another sister, Janet Wojcicki, added that she was active and healthy at the time, with nothing that would typically suggest a serious illness.
Susan herself previously wrote about her experience in a 2024 blog post, explaining that she had been running several miles a day and had almost no symptoms before her diagnosis. She said she was stunned to learn she had lung cancer, especially as a lifelong non-smoker.
Her family described her as a strong and influential leader who was widely respected both personally and professionally. They said that rather than allowing her diagnosis to define the end of her story, she focused on creating impact and raising awareness about a disease that often goes undetected until advanced stages.
In her final years, Wojcicki became increasingly vocal about the rise of lung cancer cases among people who have never smoked, particularly younger patients. Her family is now carrying forward that work through the relaunch of the Susan Wojcicki Foundation, which is dedicated to improving how lung cancer risk is identified, detected, and prevented.
The foundation aims to support research and develop better screening methods that could help detect the disease earlier. Her widower, Dennis Troper, said there is a clear opportunity to improve early diagnosis and reduce preventable deaths in the future.
So far, the family has committed 150 million dollars to the foundation, with additional support from major organizations including Salesforce, Google, and Melinda French Gates. The initiative is focused on expanding awareness and advancing medical approaches that could help identify lung cancer sooner and improve outcomes for patients.
Family members say their motivation comes from honoring Wojcicki's legacy and the way she lived her life, including her dedication to her children and her leadership role at YouTube. They hope that continuing her work will ensure other families do not face the same unexpected loss.
