Steve Jobs refused potentially life-saving cancer surgery for nine months, shrugging off his family's protests and opting for alternative medicine, according to the Apple Inc co-founder's biographer.
When the tech visionary eventually sought surgery, the rare form of pancreatic cancer had spread to the tissues surrounding the organ, biographer Walter Isaacson said.
Jobs also played down the seriousness of his condition and told everyone he was cured but kept receiving treatment in secret, Isaacson said.
The biography, to hit bookstores tomorrow, emerged from scores of interviews with Jobs.
It is expected to paint a no-holds-barred portrait of a man who famously guarded his privacy fiercely but whose death ignited a global outpouring of grief and tribute.
The book reveals that Jobs was bullied at school, tried various quirky diets as a teen, and exhibited early strange behaviour, such as staring at others without blinking.
Jobs deeply regretted putting off a decision that might have saved his life, Isaacson said.
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.