Steve Jobs and Cancer
When Steve Jobs died from cancer in 2011, there was a lot of speculation about whether he could have beaten it if only he had taken certain steps early on. Diagnosed in 2004, Jobs chose to seek alternative treatment rather than undergo surgery. Eventually, he did opt for surgical treatment, which included a liver replacement. However, he never managed to control the spread of the tumor.
Some choices that may or may not have changed the outcome include opting to have earlier conventional treatment, having more regular medical check-ups, assessing his genetic predisposition earlier on, addressing his own personal stress levels and lifestyle, and knowing more about medicine in general. For example, one of the most debated aspects of Jobs' battle with cancer is his decision to delay surgery in favor of alternative treatments. Was this the best idea? It might have been for him personally, based on his own beliefs.
It is also possible that more regular check-ups could have aided in early detection. Although it is unclear when Jobs' tumor first developed, earlier detection might have provided more treatment options. On the other hand, some reports suggest that Jobs might have had a genetic predisposition to developing certain types of cancer (Greenlee &Ernst, 2012). If this was the case, understanding and monitoring for such predispositions might have led to earlier detection or different preventive measures.
Being the head of Apple, Jobs also faced a lot of stress. It is possible that this contributed to the growth of his cancer (Washburne & Sheen, 2016). Since the death of Jobs, there have been advancements in the understanding and treatment of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. It's possible that with today's medical knowledge and technologies, his outcome might have been different.
In conclusion, there are factors that might have influenced the progression and outcome of Steve Jobs' battle with cancer, but it is important to realize that such speculations should be approached with caution. Cancer is a complicated disease even to this day, and its progression can be influenced by many unknown factors. One should not judge the decisions of others based on the outcomes.
References
Greenlee, H., & Ernst, E. (2012). What can we learn from Steve Jobs about complementary and
alternative therapies?.Preventive medicine,54(1), 3.
Washburne, S., & Sheen, B. (2016).Steve Jobs: Computer Visionary. Greenhaven Publishing
LLC.
