Being an entrepreneur, I am often intrigued with other entrepreneurs (particularly those who are mega successful and well-known). Once such entrepreneur is Steve Jobs.
As many of you probably know, Steve Jobs is the master-mind entrepreneur behind the Apple company. Apple is the company that makes all those cool ipods, computers, and iPhones.
He was diagnosed with a less aggressive form of pancreatic cancer in 2004, and did relatively well following a surgical procedure to treat it. However, after rapid weight loss during the 2008 year, people started to question Steve Job’s health.
Many said that his cancer may have returned. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadliest forms, however, he was diagnosed with a less aggressive form. Even so, people were worried. When Steve Jobs dies, many investors fear that the Apple stock will plummet.
Steve Jobs also recently cancelled a very big Apple event, and people really started to worry about his health.
So Jobs came out with an open letter declaring that his health did get worse, and he decided to pursue medical care. The doctors, he said, were able to find out that the reason he has been losing weight is due to a “hormone” problem. He said that they discovered this after analyzing a “Sophisticated” blood test. He said he was in better health, and was expected to have gained all his weight back within the next few months (late spring).
This made some people feel a bit better, but others weren’t buying into it.
Let me just stop and say right now that even though Steve Jobs is the mastermind behind Apple, and even though the stock will most likely fall quite a bit on hearing of his death, I feel the man does deserve his privacy. People should stop bother him so bad. Investors should back off. If they don’t want to give the man privacy, sell your stock. He is a human and deserves that. Even if you lose money after his death-face it. He has to die sometime.
At the same time, I have my suspicions about his real health. Why? For a few reasons. One reason is the use of the word “Sophisticated.” That just seemed really vague. Why not say what test it was? While I may only be a nursing student, I do know that there aren’t too many “sophisticated” tests out there. Hormone tests are common. But then again, maybe he didn’t want to go into details?
The second thing that makes me think he is dying is this: He is still losing weight. Granted, he said he will gain it back now. But I still have my doubts and fears until I see a healthy Jobs. Patrick Swayze (the hit actor), also is battling pancreatic cancer, and is losing weight rapidly. Steve Jobs, too, is losing rapid weight. In the medical field, this isn’t a good sign when you have cancer. I remember all too many people I have seen die of cancer with this very skinny look just weeks or months before it happened.
My neighbor died of cancer (severe alcoholic), and months before he died he began losing weight and looked almost just like Jobs. I have seen countless others who look just like Jobs just months, weeks, or days before death.
So Is Steve Jobs Lying About His Cancer? Is He Really Dying? Or Is It Really Just A Hormone Imbalance?
It is really none of my business either way, and I don’t care other than the fact that I wish the best for Mr. Jobs and his family. I know he is having a hard time right now, and I can only imagine the pain and frustration he is experiencing. It is hard enough battling cancer, losing weight, and feeling the feelings he must have right now.
Does Steve have a motive to lie? Perhaps. Maybe he thinks it is none of our business about his personal life or even death. Perhaps he wants to protect Apple’s stock (his legacy) for as long as possible? Or maybe he is just trying to be positive and optimistic. Maybe he is even a little bit in denial (which is understandable).
I know it would be really creepy and scary if everyone in the world was talking about my health and my potential death. The fact is, he isn’t dead yet, and people should respect that in the media.
Steve Jobs Takes Medical Leave
Cnn and Aol.com reported today that Steve Jobs made an announcement indicating that he will be going on medical leave until June 2009 due to escalating health issues. As most of you know, the celebrity entrepreneur that helped create such products as the Ipod and Iphone has been battling pancreatic cancer for a few years now.
He seemed healthy for a few years following the surgical procedure to remove the pancreatic cancer, but in 2008 Jobs started losing weight dramatically–leading many to believe his cancer had returned and his death was soon to follow.
Steve’s health seemed to keep getting worse. He lost more and more weight. Then, he really stirred all the Mac fannatics when he started to delegate significant proportions of his presentation to others, and then even cancelled other important Mac events.
Then, a few weeks ago, Steve Jobs came out with an announcement that his weight loss is caused by a simple “Hormone Imbalance” and that it would be easily corrected. And now, he comes back with a report that his health problem is “more complex” than originally thought. So Jobs is taking a medical leave, and leaving the destiny of Apple in the hands of others.
I respect Mr. Steve Jobs and I hope him and his family all of the best at this time. I know it must be difficult to be going through all of this publicly. However, judging by the weightloss and continued problems, I can’t help but think that Jobs is experiencing some very serious health issues.
Update: Steve Jobs Dies
News stations reported on October 5, 2011 that Steve Jobs passed away. Many news stations and gadget lovers around the world stopped to pay tribute to him.