Jobs’ Successful Surgery

For those who are not Mac-news mongers like myself, Steve Jobs, the venerable CEO of our favorite fruit co. underwent surgery to remove an extremely rare form of pancreatic cancer. As Jobs explained in a company-wide memo, his form of cancer, an islet cell neuroendocrine tumor, differs from the more common and deadly adenocarcinoma.

I am curious to know how the tumor was removed, as my grandfather had tumor removed from his kidney by a laparoscopic technique—a technique that renders unnecessary the need to make large incisions, instead filling the abdomen with CO₂ and creating ports to insert instruments and a camera. Recovery times are greatly improved and patients feel a lot less pain afterwards. Knowing Steve Jobs, I am sure he had only the best doctors performing the latest, safest surgical methods.

Fortunately, Jobs will not have to endure any chemo- or radiation therapy, as the doctors were able to diagnose the cancer in the early stages before any metastasis could occur. He plans to recover during the month of July, during which time Tim Cook will take over daily operations usually under Mr. Job’s watchful eye. Hopefully, he will be well enough to still deliver the keynote presentation at the Apple Expo in Paris, where I’m sure new iMacs will be presented.