Apple CEO Announces Break Amidst Health Speculation

There's been much speculation about the health of Apple CEO Steve Jobs in recent days, and although no one outside his immediate group of friends and colleagues knows exactly what is wrong with the technology mogul, Jobs has officially announced that he will be taking some time off in the near future.

Concern over Jobs' health is not particularly new. In September of last year, many Mac, iPod, and iPhone fans were devastated by a Bloomberg news slip announcing the Apple boss had actually kicked the bucket.

In the end, that was merely a slip up on the part of someone in editing, but even when Jobs showed up at the next event alive and well -- the best proof of his still-beating heart -- rumors about his general health did not completely subside.

Who doesn't need a holiday right about now?

It's entirely possible that the recession, which has undoubtedly made a stressful job like Apple CEO even more taxing, has simply gotten to Jobs. Recent reports suggest that computer sales over the last three months are way down. Attendance at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), usually a pretty good indication of where the tech industry is going, plummeted this year. This is a tough market and just about anyone could use a vacation.

However, there is evidence to suggest that Jobs' recent announcement has more to it. For one, most techies who follow Apple and its boss closely have noticed the man has lost a significant amount of weight in the last year. Given that Jobs himself has admitted that this is due to some sort of a hormone imbalance, it's safe to say he hasn't just been playing a lot of Wii Fit. (Source: theatlantic.com)

Now many are suggesting that the problem could be more sinister. The imbalance could actually be preventing Jobs' body from absorbing necessary protein, thus leading to the decreased weight. According to a report from CNET News, the issue has only become "more complex" over the last week or so.

Others are afraid that an old and even more concerning illness might be returning to Jobs' body. Just over four years ago, the Apple CEO underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor attached to his pancreas. Luckily, Jobs' ailment, unlike many cancers affecting the pancreas, was treatable, and it appeared as though the illness had been largely overcome.  Now, many fear the tumor is back.

Despite these very troubling suspicions, both the New York Times and Wall Street Journal deny that Jobs' cancer has returned. Still others, including a doctor (not associated with Jobs) interviewed by Bloomberg (perhaps a bad source on the Apple boss) admitted that if Jobs' pancreatic cancer has returned, which is possible, he might have to have his pancreas removed entirely. (Source: cnet.com)

Thus far, Apple is remaining quiet on the subject.