Steve Jobs' Resignation Not Indicative of Sudden Worsening of Health

As much as we don't want to believe it, this means that he is out of treatment options and has probably been told that he's got less than 24 months left. He wants to spend that time with his family and do what he can to protect Apple by separating the blow into two stages- this is stage 1. The resignation (which they've been planning for some time) was timed to minimize the impact. Apple is at an unprecedented level of strength and is on a trajectory to remain so for the next couple of years. This is the right time for stage 1, but stage 2 seems inevitable at this point. It's impossible to imaging an Apple without him, and it will not be the same. This strategy gives the world time to ponder that reality before (hopefully well before) it actually happens. Nothing lasts forever, but the tragedy is undeniable. It's time to start reflecting on his extraordinary impact and accomplishments.

This is all true except, sadly for the time frame. I have no direct knowledge but have some experience in this area. Most are pretty certain he has metastatic disease to the new liver which they have been trying to control. He went on his leave of absence to get aggressive treatment (i.e. chemo) to help control the recurrence..... hence his weakness and weight loss. His first statement said he was taking a medical leave of absence and "hoped to be back". Seven months later he has clearly taken a turn for the worse and cannot come back.

Seven months after aggressive treatment usually means that scans are showing the disease is exploding in the liver or even elsewhere, and they are largely out of options. While there may not be a "sudden worsening in health" as the article stated, there will very shortly be a rapid deterioration if the scans indeed show the above. Time frame? Who knows.... but I'd venture 4-6 months or less. And the final months are not very pleasant. Very sad.

Also, one study has shown that 80% of those like Jobs (who got transplant for neuroendocrine tumor) get tumor recurrence within 2 years. Jobs transplant was 2.5 years ago.

Of note, the 5-year survival for patients with islet-cell tumors that have surgery is less than 50%. Steve Jobs is now 8 years out from his diagnosis. He has been able to beat the odds but we all are human and wealth doesn't change outcome.

I just wanted to inject a bit of reality into this discussion--- as sad as it may be. We all wish him the best.

I suspected this. Although he probably hasn't improved, I'm glad to hear that he hasn't declined in health.

What they did here is just make it official whats been going on at Apple for a while: Cook, instead of the "acting" CEO, he is now the CEO. Steve Jobs will be doing what he has been doing since the beginning of this year.

Man, as much as I know that Apple will be fine, I just can't help but feel that Apple won't be the same with out Steve. :(

Hopefully this means that he'll still unveil iPhone 5 at the Sept event!

Large doses daily of Chinese Tonic herbs (especially Reishi Mushroom) and cayenne pepper tincture along with conventional treatment.

But you have to start early enough.

Sorry but I have to disagree on this and wish people wouldn't spread this 'knowledge'. I will be willing to change my mind if you can present peer-reviewed scientific studies that back up this claim. However, I do not expect you to be able to produce this evidential support for your claim.

Carefully worded. It's not an indication of a sudden deterioration in health...

I still find it likely though that it's a result of realising that it's still deteriorating overall and he's not going to get better.

Of course I do wish him the best of health - just being realistic and I can't think of any other reason he'd think he's no longer capable of meeting expectations

Just because his condition isn't getting worse doesn't mean his condition isn't dire already. It's too bad we're all obsessing over the prospects of a man who is probably dying, but I suppose it's a natural thing to incessantly ponder his health so that we're not psychologically overwhelmed when he finally dies. It just sucks so much. As most everybody on these boards has probably known someone who has or has had cancer, we know how terrible it can be living with the knowledge that your life has a truncated time limit. I just can't imagine what's going through Jobs' brain at the moment, not to mention his family's.

Days now, maybe weeks..... thats all.

Very sad.

Those pictures are bad. Almost hospice bad. Prayers up, but I'm afraid we will get bad news sooner than later.

Judging by the latest picture of him released I'd say this topic is farse..

Most importantly, he notes that the resignation was not in response to a sudden change in Jobs' health:

Sorry but the guy is way off the mark. Steve is not looking good:
http://www.tmz.com/2011/08/26/steve-jobs-apple-photo-resignation-ceo-sick/