Biography: Steve Jobs Regretted Delaying Possible Life-Saving Surgery
- Posted on October 21, 2011 at 8:26am by
Liz Klimas
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SAN FRANCISCO (The Blaze/AP) — In the latest biography about Steve Jobs he is portrayed as a skeptic. He gave up on religion because he was troubled by starving children and called some Apple executive “corrupt.” But was he also skeptical about a surgery that could have saved his life?
In “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson, to be released Monday, Isaacson reports that Jobs did reject surgery and chose the herbal route instead. But doctors state they don’t know if they delay made a difference.
"Steve Jobs" will be released Monday. (Image: Amazon)
In this CBS News report, Jobs’s official biographer says although he eventually had the surgery nine months later, he regretted waiting:
Jobs learned in October 2003 that he had a neuroendocrine tumor — a relatively rare type of pancreatic cancer that normally grows more slowly and is therefore more treatable. Instead of opting for surgery, he took on a vegan diet, acupuncture, herbal remedies and other treatments he found online, and even consulted a psychic. He also was influenced by a doctor who ran a clinic that advised juice fasts, bowel cleansings and other unproven approaches, the book says, before finally having surgery in July 2004.
Isaacson, quoting Jobs, writes in the book: “`I really didn’t want them to open up my body, so I tried to see if a few other things would work,’ he told me years later with a hint of regret.”
Jobs died Oct. 5, at age 56, after a battle with cancer. Jobs resigned as Apple’s CEO on Aug. 24, six weeks before he died.
The Associated Press reports that doctors said Thursday that it was not clear whether the delayed treatment made a difference in Jobs’ chances for survival.
“People live with these cancers for far longer than nine months before they’re even diagnosed,” so it’s not known how quickly one can prove fatal, said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society.
Dr. Michael Pishvaian, a pancreatic cancer expert at Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, said people often are in denial after a cancer diagnosis, and some take a long time to accept recommended treatments.
“We’ve had many patients who have had bad outcomes when they have delayed treatment. Nine months is certainly a significant period of time to delay,” he said.
Fortune magazine reported in 2008 that Jobs tried alternative treatments because he was suspicious of mainstream medicine.
Jobs told Isaacson that he tried various diets, including one of fruits and vegetables. On the naming of Apple, he said he was “on one of my fruitarian diets.” He said he had just come back from an apple farm, and thought the name sounded “fun, spirited and not intimidating.”
Isaacson will appear Sunday on “60 Minutes.” CBS News, which airs the program, released excerpts of the book Thursday.
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dtaglione
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 6:58pmWhy do you have to do one or the other? Couldn’t someone try nutrition etc. and use chemo? Why is everything this or that? Keep the body as healthy as possible while fighting the cancer as fast and harsh as possible. It was his choice, would I do chemo, hope I never have to chose, my guess is I would. No-one escapes death. Trust in God.
Report Post »dtaglione
Posted on October 23, 2011 at 6:52pmOne thing – I believe – having watched my son-in-law die of colon cancer – if you have a chance to detect and kill a cancer – you would be wise to do it fast and with all you have. My daughter has been diagnosed with lymphoma – no cure for her type except bone marrow transplant – and she is doing chemo just for quality of life. The chemo was not has harsh as a lot of chemo’s and it is working – she is in remission.
Report Post »Before anyone rules out chemo they should research their options. And hit it hard and fast with whatever option is chosen. Cancer kills not necessarily the chemo.
Author1Author
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 3:41pmI’ve been practicing medicine for many years. The folks who totally reject advice for surgery and
pursue vegan diets and coffee enemas instead, cannot be persuaded otherwise until a painful symptom gets alot worse. These same people take herbs for any serious illness, go to psychics, reject immunIzations for their children, take a dozen different vitamins each morning in huge doses, and tell all their friends that they hate Doctors; and that Dr.’s and drug companies have secret cures for things unavailable to the publlic.
In the case of rapidly-advancing breast cancer, the alternative-medicine herbal patient tells the surgeon that she wants a lumpectomy because she read that the lumpectomy has equal results with having the breast removed. The surgeon says, “Yes, but not in the case of this rapidly-advancing type..” The herbal believer rejects this, because the magazine didn’t say that certain rare types of aggressive cancers need the mastectomy. She finds a surgeon who will do the lumpectomy, and then she passes away.
Report Post »Black Eagle
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 3:07pmIf the surgery was so “life saving” he would still be with us. Chalk up another example of “death by hospital”. When the AMA and FDA are defunded and forbidden from having rotating employees with the pharmaceutical and surgical-device companies, with their SWAT teams taken away so they cannot wreck-and-destroy natural healing clinics, you will see a flowering of natural healing methods that will transform American health care, making it better and less costly. Until then, we will have every kind of toxic pills and goulish surgery forced upon us, along with FDA attacks and more liberal journalists acting as propaganda agents for their bad “science”.
Report Post »Steev
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 7:37pmI‘ve seen a few interviews with him and i have a sneaking suspicion that he had alot of regrets with the way he didn’t take advantage of many aspects of life, making money is the American way of life, and there is nothing wrong with that untill you let it consume who and what you are, he had the finances to do damn near anything he aspired to do and he chose to make more and more money, i think he regretted not tasting and consuming much of the fruits of his labor but was too proud to admit it to himself untill his dye was already cast.
Report Post »V-MAN MACE
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 1:15amSteve Jobs took the message “your manufacturers warranty is void if sticker is removed” too seriously.
He should’ve let himself get modded.
Report Post »ForeverTexan
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 5:39pmIn 69 I was diagnosed with melanoma and had it excised the next day. The stupid surgeon didn’t recommend any follow-ups for cells outside the surgical margin that might have escaped. Three years later another doc found suspiciously swollen lymph nodes and sent me to M.D. Anderson Hospital for a thorough checkup. My melanoma had metastasized to the lymph nodes. They were immediately and “aggressively” removed, along with part of the surrounding chest muscle. I was 40 years old at the time and they gave me a 50 – 50 chance for a 5 year survival. I’m now past 80 and have had prostate cancer and squamous cell skin cancer, both of which were treated immediately and aggressively. So far as I know, I’m free of cancer but still get periodic checkups. You don’t delay surgery or screw around with alternative cancer treatment if you want to live.
Report Post »sjohn70037
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:18pmNobody gets out alive Steve. Even with your billions.
Report Post »affinnity
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:17pmWhat does religion and starving children have to do with each other? With his billions he could have fed a lot of hungry children. Most executives are corrupt that’s how they beat everyone else and gain power so if it really bothered him so much why did he keep hiring and promoting corrupt people? Everyone eventually dies so various medical procedures may or may not extend your life. People need to accept the good with the bad and view death as a positive transformation.
Report Post »dragonazz
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 12:50pmYou screwed up Jobs. You should have had the surgery then tried all your healing methods to keep you healthy in the future! Surgeons surge that is what they do, but you must weigh the potential of the cancer spreading with the fear of getting opened up.
Report Post »Epic Fail
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 11:30amI was tested for a particular cancer on a Wednesday. I was told I had it on Friday. And had surgery on Saturday. He should not have waited. He would probably still be with us had he let the doctors do their job.
Report Post »lketchum
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 1:18pmI was diagnosed on a Wednesday, had surgery Thursday and was receiving chemo on the following Monday, followed shortly after by radiation with chemo.
Test often. Do not ignore warnings that persist in any way. When advised to test and treat immediately, do so.
It’s not just about you! The outright pain I saw in my wife’s face upon being diagnosed is something I NEVER EVER want to see again. So don’t be a hard-nose. Do what is right.
Report Post »Channel3
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 11:14amThe point here is this:
You can have unlimited funds, unlimited access to resources and you are still going to die.
Report Post »corbecket
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 12:47am@CHANNEL3
Well of course you’re going to die. Thanks for the tip. I’ll try to remember that.
There’s no reason to do something stupid, and end up being dead quicker. It defeats the purpose of why we’re here in the first place.
Report Post »mad_hatter
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 11:13amAfter all the junk Obama has said and done against the rich I wonder if Steve Jobs would do the same as most Wall Street people and turn on Obama to support the GOP candidate. Wall Street has now turned to Romney to fix the economy as the person they most trust to make the difference needed to fix our country: http://www.thedailycandidate.com/video/2011/oct/ws_prefers_romney.html .
Hopefully, if he wins, they are right and that Obama loses. This will be the hardest battle ever for either side, I can see it getting bloody, per sea.
Report Post »Joe Camel
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 11:01amHaving/had cancer gives one a different perspective in life. When the diagnosis comes, a second opinion is the FIRST thing one wants to do, maybe even a third. The “treatments” in some cases are worse than the disease (For me, a VERY long list). It is like a bad dream you can not run from. Faith in the end is my crutch and hope. A wonderful quote from Patrick Swayze (died from Pancreatic cancer) sums it up very well:
Report Post »“Facing your own mortality is the quickest way possible to find out what you’re made of. It strips away all the bull — and exposes every part of you, your strength, your weaknesses, your sense of self, your soul. It also leads you to confront life’s hardest questions.
momprayn
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 10:44amThis is very common – I’m about as far from “lib” as you can get and I’d probably think seriously about trying the alternative mehtods b/c my daughter and cousin did and were highly successful. I studied nutrition for awhile and there are many cases where it has worked. The probelm is you can’t make “blanket” statements b/c everyone is so different and it’s complilcated. No one has it figured out yet. There’s so many factors to success.
Report Post »But yes, it’s a great truism that “intelligence” does not = wisdom. The reason too many don’t see that is b/c it takes wisdom to see this truth (and other truths). Too many that “worship” intellectualism, academia…they have chosen to let their pride and their own thoughts of what is right and wrong take over rather than look to God/Bible for it (and be accountable to a “higher power” they don’t agree with or understand). It always comes down to….they simply don’t want to. As to proofs about God/Bible, there are many scientific and archaeological ones out there on the internet and I’ve posted them on here several times. Yes, they can be proven without reasonable doubt when studied with an open, honest, seeking heart. As God said in scriptures, if you seek Him with all your heart, you will find Him. Sadly, Steve chose not to. As far as we know, he died a Buddhist. never regetting what was really most important – not accepting Jesus for his eternal salvation — Jesus weeps.
Al J Zira
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 9:57amJust goes to show you, even supposedly super intelligent people make dumb mistakes. To blame God for all the wrong that happens in this world is the most unintelligent thing one can do.
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 9:21amWhy do people blame God for children starving? Its corrupt governments. We give billions and billions to other countries and the people in those countries never see any help for the corrupt politicians or those in charge fill their pockets and live a life of luxury. How sad someone like Jobs gives up on God when God blessed him with the intelligence to accomplish all he did. Did Jobs use his money to help children in America who live in poverty? God asks US, the people, to do our part. Give it to governments and look what happens. Socialism doesn’t work. Hand outs to other countries doesn’t work.
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 9:34amI agree.
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 9:39amWOW !!!! I made a point about this article that it said, and I quote ” Biography: Steve Jobs Regretted Delaying Possible Live-Saving Surgery… “ Live saving ” ?? Of course it was suppose to be ‘LIFE” saving but guess what ? You won’t see my post because it was censored and the wording on the title was fixed.. Nice job Blaze, I don’t like my free speech stifled ,do you ? I can‘t help that you all are a bunch of air heads that don’t proof read before posting but I do like pointing it out.. Being that you are supposed to be journalists and what not, isn’t it your job to get things right ?.. Whatever, if it makes you feel better to censor my post go ahead… I don’t like it but you hold the power..
Report Post »SmokinBugsy
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 9:43amCorrect! God gives us free will, we choose to leave the children starve. Blame the human race not our Lord Jesus Christ!
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 9:55amDemint – I understand your frustration, but at the same time I am so grateful to the Blaze for all the information they give us in a timely way that their typing mistakes are easy to forgive. Thank you Blaze staffers for all your hard work.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 10:00amYikes, BUGSY, but sadly you are correct. As NH indicated, there likely is more than enough money funneled to deprived nations which, if used properly instead of corrupted, would be used to not only feed their people but also initiate sustainable food resources. This is just another reason our government should shrink and keep the money in the hands of the people who earn it and would make a far bigger impact. Americans have always been known for their generous giving. Personally, I highly recommend Compassion International for their leadership, stewardship and genuine concern for each child.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 10:45amWell said NHWINTER … Well said.
TEA!
Report Post »bunniethecat
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 10:59amI also agree
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 9:21amI didn’t want them to open my body so I went to the Phillpines and they took out the cancer with magic instead. I feel GREa…uurrkkkkk.
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 1:59am@NHwinter.. I didn’t say anything about spelling the word wrong I said they got the whole different word.. Please reread what I wrote you obviously don’t understand. I certainly didn’t say anything bad against them getting the word wrong .. My point is I was censored due to THEIR embarrassment .. Whatever..
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 8:56amI have never known anyone at all to survive pancreatic cancer. I knew on one man who went into remission for 3.5 yrs but then it came back and got him. As for his giving up on religion because of starving children…well that was probably one of his callings. God says to feed the hungry, and to take care of the widows, and visit brothers and sisters in prison. We shouldn’t give up on God because these things exist..we are called to a higher purpose. God doesn’t exist to make us all perfect..we exist to serve Him by doing our part to make someone else’s world a little brighter and by spreading His Word. Jesus Christ/Yeshuah is Lord.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 9:15amThe leftist take on rejecting God rarely makes sense, except for those that do it for strictly logical/scientific reasons (a position of disbelief until evidence is offered). While one may not agree with the scientific types, at least their rejection has some merit. Those that reject God because “but but but…bad things happen” are delusional at best and have very little if any understanding of the underpinnings or teachings of Christianity. I suspect that 99% of them that go for that flimsy reasoning do it because somebody else taught them to, and they wanted to look cool for their friends.
Report Post »corbecket
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 8:51amWell there ya’ go. He was a brilliant CEO, but remarkably stupid on something that fell outside his area of expertise. Couple that with a bit of arrogance, and denial, and you have a guy that made a very poor choice in retrospect.
You never really know if it would have made a difference. He might have thrown a clot after surgery. It happens. Maybe he just didn’t like hospitals, but he spent plenty of time in them later on (liver transplants, etc.).
When it comes to cancer, the juice/enema/diet path is a really dumb method of dealing with it. He was a big kid though, and entitled to make dumb decisions, like all of the rest of us.
Report Post »Watchingtheweasels
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 9:05amAbsolutely. There are a number of improperly trained naturopaths and quacks willing to prey on the hopes and fears of cancer patients for cash. It is sad to learn that an otherwise brilliant individual would have opted for such a route. As far as “doctors being unsure if the delay cost him his life”, well, that would be something impossible to prove retroactively. Hopefully this story will serve as a warning to other patients who are considering unproven scientifically bankrupt treatments.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 9:18amWell, to be fair, jacking people up with chemicals and radiation is a pretty piss poor way to deal with major cancer as well, and a lot of the time that “treatment” seems to weaken a person to the point of near death or even death outside of any damage caused by the cancer they have.
I’m not advocating the “froot loop” methods so much as suggesting that there’s a reason so many people look for other ways to deal with cancer. The Drug-N-Glow method has a very, very poor track record (for major cancers).
In his shoes I’m not sure what I would do honest, treatment wise. It‘s hard to put yourself in somebody else’s place when they’re facing their own mortality.
Report Post »roadmaster
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 9:59amSo how effective was the poison and radiation treatment? I‘ve personally watched many loved ones go the medical establishments’ chemo/nuke route and it seems like a pretty horrible way to die to me. If and when I’m diagnosed with cancer, I’ll be seeking alternative treatments. I may die anyway but unlike Jobs, I‘m certain of where I’ll be in the hereafter.
Report Post »corbecket
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 1:11am@GhostofJefferson
“The Drug-N-Glow method has a very, very poor track record (for major cancers).”
It rather depends on the cancer, as to whether chemo is an effective treatment. If you haven’t checked the survival rate on childhood Leukemia like ALL (and yes, it is a MAJOR cancer by any measure accounting for fully a third of all pediatric cancers), you’ll find the long term survival rate has gone from virtually zero, to over 80%. This is definitely not “a very, very poor track record”.
It’s gone from “not so good”, to “not so bad”. A sweeping generality, like you’ve made, would get you slapped if you were an oncologist. As it is, it merely shows that a person with cancer should rely on advise from a specialist vs some rumor a guy on the internet was floating around.
I wish the adenocarcinomas had the same improvement. Maybe some day…….
Report Post »reform
Posted on October 22, 2011 at 4:32amWe all have the cancer cells in our body it’s when the cells go haywire that the cancers spreads, now referred to Steve Jobs cancer which was of the pancreas and his particular cancer was very curable. From my readings in my readings only there only three forms of cancer that have results from chemo radiation or surgery leukemia cancer of the testicles I can’t recall the last one. It’s a shame that there are many doctors out there in the alternative field who have been practicing medicine for 30+ years, when he decided to have his liver removed I do believe that was the fate his hands,that is the only organ in the body that reproduces itself. I am not saying that it would’ve worked but pancreatic enzymes and a thorough flushing of the liver may have saved his life what did chemo and surgery do for him. He lasted less than two years after taking these actions and most of that time looks like he spent his life in agony. Cancer is not something you like to see in another human being as I experienced with my father less than three months after his cancer chemo and surgery he passed on a man of 200 pounds and at his death was 60 not easy to watch. So for me I’ll be looking for alternative treatments with mind body and spirit and the replacement of whatever enzymes and nutrients and supplements I need to rebuild my body I say choose your course in your own manner. Too bad he may not know what is on the other side peace out.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 8:47amWell, gee, all of this “coulda, woulda, shoulda” talk isn’t going to bring him back, is it? Let the man rest in peace and stop trying to analyze all the what-ifs.
Report Post »loadingmyclips
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 8:44amI can‘t believe a man like Steve Jobs would be SO freakin’ stupid to trust his life to hocuspocus bullsheet frauds!!
Report Post »bcope01
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 9:15amHe was a lib. That is what they believe. Ever heard of man-made global climate change?
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 9:24amStare death in the eye and tell me you wouldn’t try anything, everything, even the silly stuff.
It‘s very easy to speculate about people after they’re dead, and when you haven’t stood on the precipice of the abyss. I’m floating Jobs the benefit of the doubt here, in his place I’d be doing everything possible, even if it meant wearing bacon as a hat and jumping up in down in public. In the end, neither the “hocuspocus” nor the “legitimate” treatment saved him, right?
Report Post »nothingbuthetruth
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 10:54amGhost…..I would try anything too, but secondary to proven methods, nine months is a long time to spread cancer. Michael Landen did the same kind of stuff and he died too.
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 10:57amJobs went the way of Farah Fawcett. She did all the hocus pocus stuff and died a painful death. I’ll go with proven medical treatment. My wife is a 12 year cancer survivor doing the chemo/radiation method.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 11:00amRight, but the thing is, everybody dies of pancreatic cancer. If we’re talking about a cancer with a low mortality rate, sure, I’d clearly go with what is proven to work. When dealing with a known 100% killer though? I’d go with everything and hope for the best personally.
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on October 21, 2011 at 11:39amAlthough Pancreatic cancer is probably the biggest killer of the different cancers it is not a 100% death rate. 7 percent of pancreas cancer cases are diagnosed while the cancer is still confined to the primary site (localized stage), there is a 16.4% survival rate using conventional medical cancer treatment. 26 percent of pancreas cancer cases are diagnosed after the cancer has spread to regional lymph nodes or directly beyond the primary site with a 7% survival rate.
Report Post »52 percent of pancreatic cancer cases are diagnosed after the cancer has already metastasized (distant stage) with a 1.8% survival rate. The problem with pancreatic cancer is it initially has no symptoms so is hard to detect. The earlier the diagnosis the better chance of survival. There really are no accurate stats on Unconventional treatment methods. So I guess to each their own.