Mr. Jobs lamented that his decision not to give his annual Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed.
But contrary to reports that he was suffering from a relapse of cancer, after recovering from the pancreatic form of the disease four years ago, Mr. Jobs said that doctors had recently diagnosed his visible weight loss as the result of a hormone imbalance that was depleting proteins in his body.
Blood tests had confirmed the diagnosis and that the remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and Ive already begun treatment, Mr. Jobs wrote.
Mr. Jobs said that he would continue to serve as Apples chief executive and that I will be the first one to step up and tell our board of directors if I can no longer continue to fulfill my duties as Apples C.E.O. I hope the Apple community will support me in my recovery and know that I will always put what is best for Apple first.
Shareholders reacted positively, bidding up Apple shares more than 3 percent, to $93.82. Shareholders had dropped the stock last week when the popular gadget blog Gizmodo reported that Mr. Jobs condition had deteriorated.
Apple announced last month that Phil Schiller, the companys senior vice president for worldwide marketing, will deliver the keynote speech on Tuesday at Macworld, usually a high-profile platform for Mr. Jobs to announce new products.
In a separate statement, the board of Apple said that Mr. Jobs deserved the companys support during his recuperation. He most certainly has that from Apple and its board, the statement said.
Text of Letter by Steven P. Jobs
Published: January 5, 2009
Following is the letter that the chief executive of Apple, Steven P. Jobs, released Monday regarding his health:
Dear Apple Community,
For the first time in a decade, Im getting to spend the holiday season with my family, rather than intensely preparing for a Macworld keynote.
Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed.
Ive decided to share something very personal with the Apple community so that we can all relax and enjoy the show tomorrow.
As many of you know, I have been losing weight throughout 2008. The reason has been a mystery to me and my doctors. A few weeks ago, I decided that getting to the root cause of this and reversing it needed to become my .1 priority.
Fortunately, after further testing, my doctors think they have found the cause -- a hormone imbalance that has been robbing me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy. Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis.
The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and Ive already begun treatment. But, just like I didnt 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 Apples C.E.O. during my recovery.
I have given more than my all to Apple for the past 11 years now. I will be the first one to step up and tell our Board of Directors if I can no longer continue to fulfill my duties as Apples C.E.O. I hope the Apple community will support me in my recovery and know that I will always put what is best for Apple first.
So now Ive said more than I wanted to say, and all that I am going to say, about this.
Steve
