In 2022, Susan Wojcicki was at the pinnacle of her career and personal life—serving as the CEO of YouTube, raising five children, and maintaining an active lifestyle that included running several miles daily. Despite this, she received a devastating diagnosis: metastatic lung cancer. The news was all the more shocking because Susan had never smoked, and she led an exceptionally healthy life, avoiding sugar and pesticides, and committing herself to daily exercise. This diagnosis led her to resign from her role at YouTube and devote herself entirely to understanding and combating lung cancer, seeking answers not only for herself but for the broader community affected by this disease.
Susan’s story is one that challenges many common perceptions about lung cancer. Though smoking remains the leading cause of lung cancer globally, a significant and growing number of lung cancer patients have never smoked, especially among women. Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide and ranks as the third most common cancer in the United States. Yet, it remains underfunded in research compared to other cancers like breast cancer, despite being the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. This disparity in funding and attention partly stems from a persistent stigma that lung cancer is self-inflicted through smoking, a notion that Susan sought to challenge.
Susan Wojcicki was not only a successful business leader but also a product of a uniquely stimulating environment. She grew up on the Stanford University campus, where her father, Stanley Wojcicki, was a physics professor, and her mother, Esther Wojcicki, was a notable journalist and educator. Esther’s influence extended beyond academia; she authored *How to Raise Successful People* and was recognized for empowering young women in STEM fields. Susan’s sisters also achieved remarkable success: Janet is a professor of pediatrics and epidemiology at UCSF, and Anne is the co-founder of the genetic testing company 23andMe. The family’s achievements underscore a nurturing environment that valued education, science, and innovation.
Despite her extraordinary family background and career successes, Susan was described by her sister Anne as “the responsible one,” known for her kindness and dependability rather than ambition for corporate leadership. Susan majored in history and literature but entered the tech world through an unexpected opportunity in 1998 when she rented her garage to Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the founders of Google. She quickly became Google’s first marketing manager and later played a pivotal role in the company’s acquisition of YouTube. In 2014, she was appointed CEO of YouTube, where she worked for eight years, balancing her demanding career with raising a large family and maintaining her health.
The onset of Susan’s cancer was initially signaled by hip pain, which she initially attributed to a running injury. However, medical imaging revealed metastatic lung cancer that had already spread significantly. Her lung oncologist’s clinical examination showed no obvious symptoms—her lungs sounded normal—highlighting a troubling aspect of lung cancer in non-smokers: it often progresses silently, without early symptoms or detectable signs during routine exams. This disconnect fueled Susan’s determination to understand why lung cancer is so difficult to detect early and why survival rates remain low.
One major factor contributing to these challenges is the underfunding of lung cancer research. Despite being the deadliest cancer, lung cancer historically received only about half the federal research funding allocated to breast cancer. The persistent stigma surrounding lung cancer, largely rooted in its association with smoking, has also hindered funding and public sympathy. This stigma affects not only non-smokers like Susan but also those who have smoked, fostering a culture of blame that undermines research support and patient care.
In her quest for answers, Susan explored various potential causes for her lung cancer. Environmental factors like radon exposure, asbestos, and air pollution are known contributors to lung cancer, particularly among non-smokers. Radon, a radioactive gas that naturally seeps from the ground and can accumulate in poorly ventilated basements, is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers in the U.S., surpassing even secondhand smoke. Susan’s home was tested and found to be free of radon, but the search for environmental triggers remained a crucial part of her investigation.
Genetics also play a complex role in lung cancer risk. While cancer fundamentally involves genetic mutations in cells, these mutations are usually acquired during a person’s life rather than inherited. Some hereditary mutations can increase vulnerability, but in lung cancer, genetic predisposition is less significant compared