What ails Apple's Steve Jobs?
Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduces new MacBooks in October, his last public appearance.
(Credit: James Martin/CNET News)Apple CEO Steve Jobs' disclosure that he'll have to take some time off to tend to his health did not clear up any of the mystery surrounding exactly what is ailing the man.
By any measure, Jobs has lost a lot of weight over the last year. He has only said that he is suffering from some sort of hormone imbalance that is preventing his body from properly absorbing protein and therefore is causing weight loss. The problem has apparently become "more complex" in the last several days.
Let's look at what we know and what we're hearing.
What we know
Jobs underwent surgery in August 2004 to remove a cancerous tumor growing on his pancreas. Usually, pancreatic cancer is a death sentence, but Jobs had a rare type of tumor known as an "islet cell neuroendocrine tumor," according to a Fortune magazine article from last year that Apple has not disputed.
That type of tumor is treatable by a procedure called the "Whipple," named after the doctor who invented it and much easier to pronounce than pancreaticoduodenectomy. During the procedure, part of the pancreas is removed and the rest of the surrounding organs are rearranged to keep the digestive process intact.
According to the University of Southern California, this is considered a relatively safe surgical procedure. However, there can be side effects such as mal-absorption, which appears to be what Jobs is suffering from, according to his statement on January 5.
In June 2008, attendees at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference were troubled by Jobs' appearance, as he appeared to have lost a lot of weight. Apple initially refused to comment on his health, but finally acknowledged the hormone imbalance in January and said Wednesday Jobs would take a six-month medical leave of absence to recuperate.
What we're hearing
Both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Jobs' cancer has not returned, citing anonymous sources. It's not clear whether this is an Apple-directed attempt at damage control at this point, given that both the Times and CNBC have reported in the past that Jobs is "fine," citing anonymous sources.
Bloomberg interviewed a doctor who has performed the Whipple procedure, and he said it's possible that Jobs' pancreas might have to be removed entirely as a result of the complications. That doctor, of course, is not part of Jobs' medical team and therefore doesn't really have any idea of his exact status, but cited the possibility of removing the entire organ as a potential course of action in Jobs' treatment.
An Apple spokesman declined to elaborate beyond the e-mail Apple released to the public describing Jobs' current health.
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Internet search, including Google, Yahoo, online advertising, and portals, as well as the evolution of mobile computing. He has written about traditional PC companies, chip manufacturers, and mobile computers, spending the last three years covering Apple. E-mail Tom. 
This hand-wringing about Jobs' is a revival of the old discredit notion of the 'body politic' in which nobility and kings were required to demonstrate a physical capability to demonstrate the political viability of their state.
This is the twenty-first century folks. Apple has tons of money, the most popular hand-held device around (the Touch not the iPhone) and is gaining marketshare. Steve is trying to demonstrate that he is not the problem.
Take a breath, say a prayer and relax.
Jobs had pancreatic surgery to remove his cancer, the pancreas affects hormonal balance, Jobs has a hormonal imbalance.
Succession at Apple is clear (and this even gives Steve a chance to test it, so he can make changes before he really does leave) so what better time to take a break and rest up?
How is something "missing" here? I just don't get how a smart person (at least one with no agenda) would feel that way.
Apple will survive without him retired or dead, now people, get over yourself and move on!
Mr. Dee, you're one pompous SOB; I will give you that and that is about all you deserve. Whatever happened to human decency? Were you raised by pirates or what? I guess the old saying, "You kiss you're mother with that mouth?" would be very applicable to you.
Hopefully his conscience -
For selling so many products that fail just after the warranty runs out (I had 8 of them)
For gouging the pockets of Mac buyers with the "Mac Premium" and Greedy Profits
For Pretending to be an American Computer Company when Apple was the FIRST to outsource in 1979.
For lying about OS X 10.1 when he promised "it will run completely on EVERY Mac", it didn't and he was sued.
For the Marketing BS for years that the G3, G4 and G5 was superior to Intel, and then SWITCHED to Intel
For all the BUGGY and FLAWED updates to OS X over the years the hobbled Macs EVERYWHERE.
For NEVER PAYING A PENNY OF DIVIDENDS to Apple Stock Holders, while he FIXED STOCK OPTIONS for himself and Apple Execs!
And finally, for the phony facade of being the instigator of innovation, when all Apple does is steal ideas and products from others and claim the innovation. No, Stevie Gods, the iCON is actually the Great iNOvator.
Now make sure you stifle free speech, you jerks at CNet, and Censor the Truth by deleting this post as you have done before.
C|NET, please do not remove the above post. Leave it there for all to see that some people in this world are just mean, unhappy, dispirited, ill-informed, business acumen-deficient knuckle heads, albeit ones still able to write in complete sentences with a near middle-school level proficiency.
It will give hope to the other voyeuristically disparaging Tom Krazits of the world.
An unapologetic Apple enthusiast.
I guess his post hit a nerve....
Never mind. I am not even going to waste my time... You're an IDIOT!
In Apple-speak that means gravely ill.
Anyways, I doubt he is as much of an innovator as he makes himself out to be.
- by doctor94301 January 18, 2009 4:48 PM PST
- Some of you folks need to get a life, besides a lesson in English!
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