Apple CEO Steve Jobs had Successful Cancer Surgery

according an email he sent on Sunday from his hospital bed to company employees using a 17" PowerBook and AirPort Express. Jobs underwent cancer surgery for a rare form of cancer of the pancreas organ, an islet cell neuroendocrine tumor. It responds to surgery if caught early without needing radiation or chemotherapy. Jobs stated that, fortunately, the cancer was caught early enough. He does not have the more common and deadly adenocarcinoma form of pancreatic cancer. Jobs will recuperate for the month of August during which Tim Cook, executive VP for worldwide sales and operations, will lead Apple Computer. Jobs did not mention Pixar.

Here is the email:

Team,

I have some personal news that I need to share with you, and I wanted you to hear it directly from me.

This weekend I underwent a successful surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from my pancreas. I had a very rare form of pancreatic cancer called an islet cell neuroendocrine tumor, which represents about 1 percent of the total cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed each year, and can be cured by surgical removal if diagnosed in time (mine was). I will not require any chemotherapy or radiation treatments.

The far more common form of pancreatic cancer is called adenocarcinoma, which is currently not curable and usually carries a life expectancy of around one year after diagnosis. I mention this because when one hears "pancreatic cancer" (or Googles it), one immediately encounters this far more common and deadly form, which, thank god, is not what I had.

I will be recuperating during the month of August, and expect to return to work in September. While I'm out, I've asked Tim Cook to be responsible for Apple's day to day operations, so we shouldn't miss a beat. I'm sure I'll be calling some of you way too much in August, and I look forward to seeing you in September.

Steve

PS: I'm sending this from my hospital bed using my 17-inch PowerBook and an Airport Express.