Jobs considering liver transplant; Wants to be left alone

Apple CEO Steve Jobs is reportedly considering a liver transplant, a medical procedure that could add years to his life, following complications stemming from his treatment for pancreatic cancer, according to a report in Bloomberg. Reached by telephone, Jobs told Bloomberg that he would not comment further on his health.

“Why don’t you guys leave me alone -- why is this important?” Jobs said.

Earlier this week, Jobs announced in an e-mail to employees that he would be taking a medical leave of absence until the end of June after he learned that his condition was "more complex" than he previously believed. Earlier this month, he said he was suffering from a "hormone imbalance," which was causing the weight loss that had made him appear to be frail and thin.

Bloomberg quotes Steven Brower, a professor and chairman of surgery at Mercer University School of Medicine in Savannah, Ga., as saying that patients with Steve Jobs' condition "can survive for 20 years or more from the time of their original cancer diagnosis, and the surgery often gives good results." Brower hasn’t treated Jobs and doesn’t know details of his condition.

Apple has repeatedly declined comment on matters relating to Jobs' medical condition, saying that it is a private matter. That position has sparked a debate over whether the company has an obligation to disclose the information. The news leaks and rampant speculation has caused shares of Apple to fluctuate.

Also see: The Success(or) of Steve Jobs