Apple CEO Says He's Suffering From Hormone Imbalance
Countering speculation that Apple (AAPL) Chief Executive Steve Jobs's health is waning, Jobs said Monday he’s suffering from a hormone imbalance and is not on his deathbed.
In a letter to the Apple community, Jobs said that while his decision to not deliver the keynote address during the upcoming Macworld prompted rumors about his health, the reason he has been losing weight is because of a hormone imbalance that has been “robbing” him of proteins needed to be healthy.
“The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I've already begun treatment,” said Jobs in the letter. “But, just like I didn't lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it will take me until late this Spring to regain it. I will continue as Apple's CEO during my recovery.”
For weeks now speculation has swirled about the health of Jobs, who the company repeatedly said was fine. His cancellation at MacWorld pushed many investors over the edge and forced Jobs to address the issue. In the letter, Jobs said his weight loss throughout 2008 was a mystery to himself and his doctors, and finding out the reason was his number one priority. Through testing and sophisticated blood tests, Jobs discovered he has a hormone imbalance. In mid-2004 Jobs underwent treatment for a rare form of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer has a low survival rate, but Jobs has said he had a less aggressive form and was treated successfully.
Charles Bregier, a doctor at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, N.C., said forms of pancreatic cancer could be associated with weight loss and other gastrointestinal tract symptoms. He said the symptoms can show up years later.
“One type of pancreatic problem treated can lead to other types of pancreatic problems instead of a reoccurrence of the primary one,” said Bregier.
Hormone imbalances, while not thought to typically occur in males, happen naturally as men and women age, said Doctor Steven Hotze, founder of the Health & Wellness Center in Houston, Texas.