Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced that he was taking a "medical leave of absence until the end of June," in a letter to employees on January 14, 2009. Jobs said his "health related issues" were "more complex" than he originally thought. Tim Cook will function as Apple's CEO until then.Yahoo! Finance: Apple Media Advisory: Steve Jobs Health-Related Issues (January 14, 2009) Dr. Robert Thomas, who is familiar with the course of pancreatic cancer but not with Jobs' specific case, said that Jobs may be facing surgery to remove his pancreas.Bloomberg: Steve Jobs May Have Pancreas Removed After Cancer (Update6) (January 16, 2009)

On January 26, 2009, the Silicon Valley gossip blog Valleywag wrote that Jobs was undergoing surgery at the Stanford Hospital.Valleywag: Steve Jobs Reportedly Under the Knife at Stanford Hospital... (January 26, 2009) The rumor was quickly refuted by TechCrunch, which held that Jobs was working at the Apple offices that day.TechCrunch: Report: Steve Jobs is in the Office Today (January 26, 2009) On June 20, 2009, it was announced that Steve Jobs had a liver transplant in Tennessee about 2 months prior to this announcement.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124546193182433491.html

"I am sure all of you saw my letter last week sharing something very personal with the Apple community. Unfortunately, the curiosity over my personal health continues to be a distraction not only for me and my family, but everyone else at Apple as well. In addition, during the past week I have learned that my health-related issues are more complex than I originally thought."Yahoo! Finance: Apple Media Advisory: Steve Jobs Health-Related Issues (January 14, 2009)

"In order to take myself out of the limelight and focus on my health, and to allow everyone at Apple to focus on delivering extraordinary products, I have decided to take a medical leave of absence until the end of June. I have asked Tim Cook to be responsible for Apple's day to day operations, and I know he and the rest of the executive management team will do a great job. As CEO, I plan to remain involved in major strategic decisions while I am out. Our board of directors fully supports this plan."Yahoo! Finance: Apple Media Advisory: Steve Jobs Health-Related Issues (January 14, 2009)

"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 I've already begun treatment. 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."WSJ.com: Statement From Apple Board; Letter From Steve Jobs on Health (January 5, 2009)

A false report that Steve Jobs suffered a heart attack caused Apple stock prices to drop on the morning of October 3, 2008. The report was untrue.Silicon Alley Insider: Apple Denies Steve Jobs Heart Attack Report... (October 3, 2008)

Earlier in the year, there was speculation regarding Job's health after some suggested that he looked frail at Apple's 2008 Worldwide Developers Conference. Some feared that the Apple CEO may again be battling or undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer.Silicon Alley Insider: Does Apple's Steve Jobs Have Cancer Again? (June 10, 2008)

As with previous rumors about Jobs' declining health, a mid-December 2008 rumor was followed by some stockholders selling shares, causing a decline in Apple's value.Tech Check (CNBC): Apple's Jobs is (Still) Fine (December 30, 2008) The October rumor that Jobs had suffered a heart attack caused Apple stock to drop more than ten points.ZDNet: Fake Steve Jobs Heart Attack Story Pushes... (October 3, 2008)

Steve Jobs was first diagnosed with a tumor on his pancreas in 2003, but because the form of cancer he was diagnosed with was treatable, he decided not to immediately undergo surgery. In addition, Jobs kept the existence of his tumor a secret from the public and only a small select group of Apple insiders knew of his illness. After pursuing an alternative medicine regimen for several months, Jobs finally relented to undergo surgery on July 31, 2004.Fortune: The Trouble with Steve (March 4, 2008)