by , 7:20 PM EDT, August 1st, 2004

Apple Computer and Pixar Animation Studios Chief Executive Steve Jobs underwent surgery this weekend for a rare form of pancreatic cancer and is expected to make a full recovery, employees were informed in a company-wide e-mail on Sunday that was obtained by The Mac Observer.

"This weekend I underwent a successful surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from my pancreas," Mr. Jobs wrote in the e-mail. "I had a very rare form of pancreatic cancer called an islet cell neuroendocrine tumor, which represents about 1 percent of the total cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed each year, and can be cured by surgical removal if diagnosed in time (mine was)."

TMO has learned Mr. Jobs underwent surgery Saturday.

Mr. Jobs added he will not have to undergo chemotherapy or radiation treatments and will recuperate during the month of August.

Mr. Jobs went on to say he was not suffering from a far more common and even deadlier form of pancreatic cancer known as adenocariconoma. "I mention this because when one hears 'pancreatic cancer' (or Googles it), one immediately encounters this far more common and deadly form, which, thank God, is not what I had," he said in the message.

Mr. Jobs said that in his absence, Tim Cook, executive vice president of worldwide sales and operations, will run the day-to-day operations of Apple.

Mr. Cook, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, said that Mr. Jobs's doctors say his prognosis is "excellent." Mr. Cook added that everyone at Apple "knows what we need to do. Steve is a very hands-on CEO and we've discussed on a weekly basis plans for the many many months ahead."

In an interview with the Bloomberg News Service Sunday, Intuit Inc. Chairman and Apple Board member William Campbell said Apple's board is comfortable with Mr. Cook overseeing operations, even if Mr. Jobs does not return to work in early September.

"I was over there a little bit ago (at the hospital to see Mr. Jobs). He is awake, alert, energetic, his color is good. He's animated and the doctors have communicated that Steve's prognosis is extremely good," said Campbell.

Mr. Jobs finished his e-mail by telling employees he's never too far from his Mac. "I'm sending this from my hospital bed using my 17-inch PowerBook and an Airport Express," he wrote.

It is not known if Mr. Jobs will deliver the keynote address at the upcoming Apple Expo, scheduled to begin Tuesday, August 31 in Paris, France. An official announcement on Mr. Jobs giving the keynote was expected from show organizers in the next week.