Jobs Health Concerns Related to Food Absorption, Not Cancer?

[MacRumors]

The New York Times reports that the health issues that have resulted in Steve Jobs taking a medical leave of absence from his role as Apple's CEO stem from a problem with food absorption and not from a recurrence of cancer.

Two people who are familiar with Mr. Jobs’s current medical treatment said he was not suffering from a recurrence of cancer, but a condition that was preventing his body from absorbing food. Doctors have also advised him to cut down on stress, which may be making the problem worse, these people said.

Jobs underwent surgery for a rare form of pancreatic cancer in 2004, and he claimed as recently as July 2008 that he remained cancer-free. Concerns about Jobs' health were revived in mid-December when Apple announced that he would not present at Macworld Expo in San Francisco in early January, but he officially announced on the eve of Macworld that his health concerns were due to a "hormone imbalance".

After hours trading in Apple's stock was temporarily halted as the news was being released, and the share price temporarily dropped 10-12% upon resumption of trading before settling at an approximately 7% decline from the close of regular trading earlier in the day.

Article Link: Jobs Health Concerns Related to Food Absorption, Not Cancer?

[Eidorian]

Uh, yeah? Weight loss? It's obvious.

[Sky Blue]

here's to a swift return for steve

[NathanCH]

Hmm... I don't know of any food absorption problems that make you leave your job for 5 months.

[twoodcc]

well that's good news that it's not cancer again. but i hope that they can figure out what exactly is causing the problem and can get him heathly again.

[miiles]

Originally Posted by NathanCH

Hmm... I don't know of any food absorption problems that make you leave your job for 5 months.

Oh, so you're his doctor?

[arn]

Originally Posted by NathanCH

Hmm... I don't know of any food absorption problems that make you leave your job for 5 months.

food absorbtion issues can obviously cause serious health problems. leaving your job being one of the milder consequences.

arn

[NathanCH]

Originally Posted by MrBritton

Oh, so you're his doctor?

No. But what problem makes a doctor tells you, "Well this problem will last exactly 5 months" besides a very common disease like cancer? With cancer doctors can predict how long treatment will take.

That's just my opinion. And it doesn't really matter much - when it comes down to it, he's sick.

[arn]

Originally Posted by NathanCH

No. But what problem makes a doctor tells you, "Well this problem will last exactly 5 months" besides a very common disease like cancer? With cancer doctors can predict how long treatment will take.

That's just my opinion.

This doesn't really mean much. Doctors could tell you to take time off for various reasons and various time frames depending on the severity of the issue. I won't speculate as to jobs' specific illness, and it certainly may be very serious... but your reasoning (that there's a timeframe, therefore it must be cancer) is flawed.

(and I am a physician)
arn

[Eidorian]

Originally Posted by NathanCH

No. But what problem makes a doctor tells you, "Well this problem will last exactly 5 months" besides a very common disease like cancer? With cancer doctors can predict how long treatment will take.

That's just my opinion.

I doubt his doctor said the problem is going to last "exactly 5 months".

Edit: What arn said.

[vansouza]

Originally Posted by NathanCH

Hmm... I don't know of any food absorption problems that make you leave your job for 5 months.

And you got your degree in human medical diagnostics where?

[ltldrummerboy]

Thanks for the insight Arn.

[levitynyc]

While I think the whole "keeping him in my prayers" thing is a bunch of hooey (after all, didnt "god" put him in the situation in the first place) I really hope for his sake and **** it, lets be selfish here, my sake as a lover of Apple products, that Steve gets well soon.

[SydneyDev]

If your body can not extract enough nutrition/goodness (highly scientific term there) from food, could that be fatal? It sure sounds like it could.

[funnyent]

its great to hear its not cancer!!!! Get well soon steve!! 

[iOrlando]

seriously...this whole situation is getting way out of control.

Here are my thoughts:

Steve would have preferred that none of this happened this way.
1) say no more macworlds because it is a business decision....failed
2) write a letter saying you think you know the problem and solution....failed
3) now this letter today....

everyone says steve wants everything a certain way...did he think people would just accept what apple would say and continue on their day?

The media...blogs...are having a ball with this....steve is died in 2 weeks...apple will get their butts sued tomorrow...etc...its crazy...

The company needs a few months to just see what happens...tim cook will do what he normally does....

hopefully steve can come back...and do some iphone-related annoucement in July...

[vansouza]

... for those who have done the math and "know" that no one survives his type of cancer for longer then 5 years... An associate of mine had a very rare form of cancer that no one survived more then a few months. Eight years later he is going strong.

It is so none of our business to pry and prey on his medical condition... one would think that HIPPA laws did not apply to him.

Move alone nothing here to see.. move along.

[lifeinhd]

Okay, now I'm scared.

[iVeBeenDrinkin']

This story was the "tease" for the late night local news here in my area.

[NT1440]

Originally Posted by arn

This doesn't really mean much. Doctors could tell you to take time off for various reasons and various time frames depending on the severity of the issue. I won't speculate as to jobs' specific illness, and it certainly may be very serious... but your reasoning (that there's a timeframe, therefore it must be cancer) is flawed.

(and I am a physician)
arn

Arn, is there anything you DONT do?

Glad to hear its not cancer. Yes, I beleive its not cancer because I don't jump to baseless assumptions.

[bobbleheadbob]

Well, this is potentially better news at least.

[Eidorian]

Originally Posted by vansouza

Move alone nothing here to see.. move along.

I take it you mean to panic, right?

[flyfish29]

Five months sounds about right to allow them to not only treat the issues once they pinpoint the cause, but to allow him to have some stress reduction in his life. If he know he was returning in two months don't you think he would stay in tune with EVERYTHING and probably not stop thinking about the great new products Apple is coming out with. A VERY large part of healing is stress reduction when stress levels are high.

Wish you the best Steve- and can't wait to see your mock necks fitting better in the future!!!

[MarkMS]

Hope this helps him! As a medical student, AAPL shareholder, and Apple enthusiast, I'd rather see him happy and healthy than have the latest iPod or iMac.

So here's to a speedy recovery!

[gmcalpin]

Originally Posted by Eidorian

Uh, yeah? Weight loss? It's obvious.

Let's stop fooling ourselves, everybody. Eidorian is right.

Nevermind that months of denying that he's known exactly what's wrong with him — knowing that it would affect Apple's stock price if the truth came out — would be considered stock manipulation and he could face jailtime for it... WE KNOW THE TRUTH.

Steve is bulimic.