Steve Jobs Underwent Liver Transplant: WSJ
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple CEO Steve Jobs underwent a liver transplant two months ago. The report also states that despite this, he is still on track to return to Apple's helm at the end of June. In fact, early this month that same WSJ reported that Jobs was due to return at the end of June. Of course, at that time the WSJ didn't have the info it has now.
Jobs left Apple for an extended medical leave in January, promising to return at the end of June. According to the Journal, as part of an agreement in place before he went on leave, some board members have been briefed weekly on his condition by his physician.
Steve Jobs is in a somewhat rare position: an executive who's health can affect his company's health to such an extent that fake stories over "heart attacks" and the like have cause major drops in the price of Apple's stock. That said, the reality of this medical leave, as well as the pancreatic cancer he was treated for in 2004 has raised questions about when a person is so important that his private life must become public. This new report is bound to raise still more questions.
According to a doctor speaking to the Wall Street Journal (note that he has neither consulted with or treated Steve Jobs), a pancreatic cancer such as Jobs was treated for will often metastasize to the liver.
Apple's only statement with regards to the report: "Steve continues to look forward to returning at the end of June, and there's nothing further to say."
Jobs left Apple for an extended medical leave in January, promising to return at the end of June. According to the Journal, as part of an agreement in place before he went on leave, some board members have been briefed weekly on his condition by his physician.
Steve Jobs is in a somewhat rare position: an executive who's health can affect his company's health to such an extent that fake stories over "heart attacks" and the like have cause major drops in the price of Apple's stock. That said, the reality of this medical leave, as well as the pancreatic cancer he was treated for in 2004 has raised questions about when a person is so important that his private life must become public. This new report is bound to raise still more questions.
According to a doctor speaking to the Wall Street Journal (note that he has neither consulted with or treated Steve Jobs), a pancreatic cancer such as Jobs was treated for will often metastasize to the liver.
William Hawkins, a doctor specializing in pancreatic and gastrointestinal surgery at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., said that the type of slow-growing pancreatic tumor Mr. Jobs had will commonly metastasize in another organ during a patient's lifetime, and that the organ is usually the liver. "All total, 75% of patients are going to have the disease spread over the course of their life," said Dr. Hawkins, who has not treated Mr. Jobs.While Jobs is still set to return at month's end, the report indicates he may work only part-time at first. Of course, for Jobs, part-time is probably not possible: despite his illness he has still been involved in Apple's inner workings.
Apple's only statement with regards to the report: "Steve continues to look forward to returning at the end of June, and there's nothing further to say."
