Apple CEO Steve Jobs went under the knife this weekend, undergoing a medical operation to remove a cancer tumour from his pancreas.

In post-op email to employees, Jobs said that though the operation been successful, he would be away from Apple throughout August for recuperation. In his stead, he leaves worldwide sales and ops chief Tim Cook.

According to the email, Jobs' cancer was a "very rare" form. Diagnosed early, Jobs' doctors were able to remove the tumour without the need for harsher procedures, such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Jobs was keen to stress that he had not suffered from the more common - and well-known - variety of the disease. This form is incurable and kills the sufferer typically within a year of diagnosis.

US comedian Bill Hicks passed away in 1994 after suffering from the disease.

Jobs said he will return to work in September. We wish him a speedy recovery. ®

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