OMEN
06-20-2009, 01:04 PM
Apple CEO Steve Jobs underwent a liver transplant around two months ago, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
The visionary co-founder of Apple, now 54, has been in poor health for some time, with the industry awash with rumors about the exact nature of his medical condition and the effect that it was having on his company. Back in 2004, Jobs revealed that he had been treated for a rare form of pancreatic cancer, known as islet cell neuroendocrine tumor. Since then, Jobs has lost a significant amount of weight and his health has been the subject of intense speculation, with Jobs and Apple mostly remaining tight-lipped.
In January 2009, Jobs announced that he would take six months medical leave, having previously cited a ‘hormone imbalance’ for his ongoing health issues. Now the well-informed Wall Street Journal reports that during this period Jobs relocated to Tennessee, where liver-transplant waiting times are the lowest in the country, and underwent a transplant operation a couple of months back. Jobs and Apple have so far refused to confirm or deny the story.
According to medical experts, the kind of pancreatic tumour that Jobs suffered from turns up in another organ at some point in around 75% of patients and that organ is often the liver. If the cancer had indeed spread to his liver, this would indeed provide an explanation for Jobs’ alleged transplant.
Apple have refused to provide continuous updates of Jobs’ health status, despite pressure from investors and analysts to do precisely that. Some board members at Apple have been given weekly updates on their CEO’s condition, but this information is treated with utmost discretion. Tim Cook, Apple’s COO, has been running the company whilst Jobs has been on leave.
Apple spokeswoman Katie Cotton told the WSJ:
Steve continues to look forward to returning at the end of June, and there’s nothing further to say.
The Gaurdian
The visionary co-founder of Apple, now 54, has been in poor health for some time, with the industry awash with rumors about the exact nature of his medical condition and the effect that it was having on his company. Back in 2004, Jobs revealed that he had been treated for a rare form of pancreatic cancer, known as islet cell neuroendocrine tumor. Since then, Jobs has lost a significant amount of weight and his health has been the subject of intense speculation, with Jobs and Apple mostly remaining tight-lipped.
In January 2009, Jobs announced that he would take six months medical leave, having previously cited a ‘hormone imbalance’ for his ongoing health issues. Now the well-informed Wall Street Journal reports that during this period Jobs relocated to Tennessee, where liver-transplant waiting times are the lowest in the country, and underwent a transplant operation a couple of months back. Jobs and Apple have so far refused to confirm or deny the story.
According to medical experts, the kind of pancreatic tumour that Jobs suffered from turns up in another organ at some point in around 75% of patients and that organ is often the liver. If the cancer had indeed spread to his liver, this would indeed provide an explanation for Jobs’ alleged transplant.
Apple have refused to provide continuous updates of Jobs’ health status, despite pressure from investors and analysts to do precisely that. Some board members at Apple have been given weekly updates on their CEO’s condition, but this information is treated with utmost discretion. Tim Cook, Apple’s COO, has been running the company whilst Jobs has been on leave.
Apple spokeswoman Katie Cotton told the WSJ:
Steve continues to look forward to returning at the end of June, and there’s nothing further to say.
The Gaurdian