On November 11, KBS 2TV “The Secrets of Famous Soldiers” explored Apple co-founder Steve Jobs’ health battle, highlighting his controversial dietary choices and delayed surgery.
Jobs was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas, a type of tumor that affects endocrine and nervous tissues. Unlike the more fatal pancreatic adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors have a five-year survival rate of about 96% if treated early. Unfortunately, Jobs’ personal choices limited his options.
He initially refused surgery, instead adopting a strict vegetarian diet, believing it would aid elimination “mucus” in the body, based on a book he admired. Jobs also tried fasting and colon cleansing, practices that medical experts warn can be dangerous for patients with serious illnesses.
Medical expert Lee Nak-joon explained that Jobs’ fasting gave temporary feelings of lightness and mental clarity, but weakened his body, making surgery and chemotherapy riskier. Consuming only fruit smoothies is particularly harmful, as high sugar intake feeds cancer cells and strains the pancreas.
Lee Nak-joon pointed out: “Even healthy individuals should not rely solely on fruit juice. Protein is essential, and giving sugar to someone with pancreatic insufficiency can worsen chronic diseases such as diabetes and feed cancer cells.”
When Jobs finally agreed to surgery, nine months after diagnosis, the tumor had already progressed. His liver was severely affected and metastases had occurred. Despite assembling a top-notch medical team and personally selecting treatments, Jobs died on October 5, 2011, at age 56, shortly after seeing his son Reed graduate from college.
Jobs was also among the first patients to undergo advanced genomic sequencing, which cost over KRW 100 million at the time. Today, similar tests can be conducted for a fraction of that cost. His son Reed continues to work in oncology research and invests in cancer startups.
Steve Jobs’ Journey to Health offers a cautionary tale about balancing personal beliefs with medical advice, underscoring the critical importance of early intervention for serious illnesses.
Sources: OSEN, KBS 2TV
