Wojcicki, 56, resigned as CEO in February 2023 after nine years at the helm to focus on her declining health
Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki has died after a two-year battle with non-small cell lung cancer, her husband announced in a Facebook post. “My beloved wife of 26 years and mother of our five children passed away today after two years of living with non-small cell lung cancer,” wrote Dennis Troper.
“Susan was not only my best friend and partner, but she was a brilliant mind, a loving mother and a dear friend to many. Her impact on our family and the world was immeasurable. We are heartbroken but grateful for the time we had with her. Please keep our family in mind as we go through this difficult time,” he said.
Wojcicki, 56, stepped down as CEO in February 2023 after nine years at the helm to focus on her declining health. Wojcicki was one of the founders of Google – she rented a garage in her parents’ house to co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin to start the company in 1998.
What is non-small cell lung cancer?
Non-small cell lung cancer is a rare, fast-growing type of lung cancer that can affect anyone, but it typically occurs in people who have been smoking tobacco for a long time. Doctors say the disease can be cured in some people if it is detected early, but for many people it can be fatal, and the only way to prevent it is to quit smoking.
In the United States, approximately 57 out of 100,000 people will develop lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for approximately 15 percent of these cancer diagnoses.
How does non-small cell lung cancer spread?
According to experts, non-small cell lung cancer begins when healthy cells in your lungs begin to mutate or turn into cancer cells – that is, divide and multiply uncontrollably. Eventually, these cancer cells clump together and form tumors that block your blood or lymph. Non-small cell lung cancer typically spreads in:
- Lymph nodes
- Bones
- Brain
- liver
- Adrenal glands
Doctors say that once the cancer spreads, it also begins to form new cancerous tumors in the lymph nodes and organs, especially the lungs, which ultimately leads to their collapse.
Signs and symptoms of non-small cell lung cancer
According to experts, non-small cell lung cancer that has not spread rarely causes symptoms. However, when symptoms do occur, they include:
- Severe chest pain
- Chronic cough
- Bloody cough
- Breathing difficulties
- Swelling in the face
- Tiredness and exhaustion
- Hoarseness in the voice
- Swollen neck veins
- Unexplained weight loss
- Panting
What are the causes of non-small cell lung cancer other than smoking?
Doctors say it is mainly caused by smokers or people exposed to tobacco smoke (secondhand smoke). Other risk factors include:
- Radiation exposure from cancer treatments or imaging scans
- Exposure to radon gas
- Exposure to workplace hazards such as asbestos, arsenic, nickel, tar or toxic chemicals
- Lung cancer in the family
- Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV
Ways to reduce the risk of developing non-small cell lung cancer
Doctors say quitting tobacco is the best way to prevent non-small cell lung cancer, so if you currently smoke tobacco, try to quit as soon as possible. No matter how old you are or how long you’ve been smoking, your lungs will start to heal once you quit.
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