It's also possible that he is having malabsorption issues related to damage to the pancreas or the cancer treatment. The pancreas produces enzymes used in the digestion of fat. If your pancreas is damaged, you may not be able to eat fat which can greatly reduce your caloric intake. Add malabsorption to that and you can have uncontrolled weight loss.
@Lymed: Yes, you are correct. But I thought from the initial "hormone problem" announcement that something more is going on here.
My sister has cystic fibrosis. One of the main hallmarks of this disease is this exact problem: a shortage of pancreatic enzymes that prevent proper nutrition absorption.
Now, consider this: CF is the single most common genetic disease among caucasians in the U.S., occurring in roughly 1 of 2,000 births. Steve Jobs would have us believe his - presumably well-compensated - medical team couldn't figure out pancreatic enzyme shortage might be the problem for upwards of *nine months.* I don't buy it.
@IvyLeagueMetalhead: I don't think it's just pancreatic enzyme shortage. I'm saying add a pancreatic enzyme shortage to a malabsorption problem and it can lead to even more weight loss. I have pancreatitis and I am currently underweight. It's not the only cause for me being underweight, but not being able to eat fat without extreme pain sure plays a roll.
The survival rates for pancreatic cancer are very low. Which means there is probably a whole heck of a lot doctors don't know about the damage pancreatic cancer and its treatment does to people who survive.
@flathead: They are in a strange way almost not related. But I'm sure she's already writing about it, couching the whole thing as a fictional family novel.
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01/15/09
My sister has cystic fibrosis. One of the main hallmarks of this disease is this exact problem: a shortage of pancreatic enzymes that prevent proper nutrition absorption.
Now, consider this: CF is the single most common genetic disease among caucasians in the U.S., occurring in roughly 1 of 2,000 births. Steve Jobs would have us believe his - presumably well-compensated - medical team couldn't figure out pancreatic enzyme shortage might be the problem for upwards of *nine months.* I don't buy it.
01/15/09
The survival rates for pancreatic cancer are very low. Which means there is probably a whole heck of a lot doctors don't know about the damage pancreatic cancer and its treatment does to people who survive.
01/15/09
01/15/09
01/15/09