Jobs Letter a Temporary Salve for Apple

Jobs had what's known as the Whipple procedure, according to reports. The surgery removes portions of the pancreas and digestive tract, and according to medical studies, most patients survive, however many experience weight loss and other ailments.

"Common problems after pancreaticoduodenectomy were weight loss, abdominal pain, fatigue, foul stools, and diabetes," according to a 2000 report by Johns Hopkins.

Jobs has led Apple to some big hits since his return to the company 11 years ago, thanks largely to Jobs' uncanny ability to time product launches and choose designs that win with consumers. The company's sleek Macbook laptops were a hit at a time when buyers were shifting away from desktops. The iPod took over in mp3s where Sony's Walkman left off in cassettes. And the iPhone nailed the touchscreen trend just as phone giants like Motorola(MOT Quote) had run out of new ideas.

A strong vision, like Jobs has exhibited, would serve Apple well as it hopes to keep the home-run streak alive.

The PC industry stumbled badly in the past decade, and giants like Dell (DELL Quote) and Hewlett-Packard(HPQ Quote) are attempting a comeback that could change Apple's momentum. And in phones, the iPhone's early popularity now faces formidable competition from rival Research In Motion(RIMM Quote) and its BlackBerry Storm touchscreen device, as well as forthcoming phones from Nokia(NOK Quote) and Motorola.

This means investors need Jobs, not just to survive, but also to deliver more hits at a time when challengers are working toward their own recovery.