According to Steve Jobs’ death certificate, issued Monday by the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, respiratory arrest brought on by a “metastatic pancreas neuroendocrine tumor” was the official cause of the Apple co-founder’s death on October 5, Bloomberg News reported.
Bloomberg also noted that Jobs’ occupation was listed as “entrepreneur” on his death certificate.
In a statement issued October 5, Jobs’ family did not specify the cause of death, but noted that Jobs “died peacefully today surrounded by his family.”
Jobs had battled with his illness for several years and the AP notes that Jobs “lived more than seven years after being diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor –- a less common, slower-growing and more treatable type of pancreatic cancer.”
Jobs first publicly disclosed his health problems in 2004, the same year he underwent surgery to remove a tumor from his pancreas and took a medical leave of absence. He had a liver transplant in 2009 and took a second medical leave of absence that year, then another this year.
Jobs resigned as Apple’s CEO in August as his health continued to deteriorate.
“I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know,” wrote Jobs in the letter announcing his resignation. “Unfortunately, that day has come.”
According to the American Cancer Society, almost the same number of people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer as die from it each year: The American Cancer Society estimates that “44,030 new cases of pancreatic cancer are expected to occur in the US in 2011” while “37,660 deaths are expected to occur” in the same year.
Even for those diagnosed before the disease has spread beyond the pancreas, there is only a 23 percent five-year survival rate, the American Cancer Society notes.
The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Jobs’ funeral, described as a “small private gathering,” had been held that same day
Courtesy Of Huffingtonpost.com
