Steve Jobs, a visionary and creative genius, who established the most valuable company in the world -- Apple -- passed away at the age of 56.

Jobs announced that he was diagnosed a cancerous tumor in his pancreas in 2004. Since then, he started his journey of survival. During the last eight years, Jobs began to show signs of fragility and thinness.

From time to time, Jobs had to take a leave of absence to treat his condition. in August 2011, he left the company in the hands of then-COO Tim Cook, who had taken his place during previous times of absences.

Start the slideshow to find out how cancer took toll on Jobs' health throughout the years.

MUST READ: Steve Jobs: Top 10 Achievements of the World's Greatest Tech Icon (PHOTOS)

MUST READ: Amazon vs Facebook: Who Would Make a Better Smartphone?

RELATED STORIES
Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, speaks to the media in London at the launch of the European iTunes online m..
Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, speaks [to the media] in London at the launch of the European iTunes online music store June 15, 2004. Reuters
Apple CEO Jobs introduces new operating system in San Francisco
Apple Corporation Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs introduces the new operating system, OS 10.5 "Leopard" to the crowd at the Apple 2006 Worldwide Development Conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California, August 7, 2006. Reuters
Apple Corporation CEO Steve Jobs speaks during his keynote speech at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, California
Apple Corporation CEO Steve Jobs speaks during his keynote speech at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, California June 9, 2008. Reuters
Apple Inc CEO Steve Jobs displays a redesigned iPod Nano at Apples quotLets Rockquot media event in San Francisco
Apple Inc CEO Steve Jobs displays a redesigned iPod Nano at Apple's "Let's Rock" media event in San Francisco, California September 9, 2008. Reuters
Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs Reuters
Apple Inc CEO Jobs takes the stage at a special event in San Francisco
Apple Inc Chief Executive Steve Jobs takes the stage at a special event in San Francisco September 9, 2009. Charismatic showman Jobs, who traditionally orchestrates Apple's media showcases, made his first public appearance after returning from medical leave in June. Reuters
Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs takes to the stage during an Apple event in San Francisco
Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs takes to the stage during an Apple event in San Francisco, California March 2, 2011. Jobs took the stage to a standing ovation on Wednesday, returning to the spotlight after a brief medical absence to unveil the second version of the iPad. Reuters
Steve Jobs takes the stage to discuss the iCloud service at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco
Apple Inc CEO Steve Jobs takes the stage to discuss the iCloud service at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco June 6, 2011. Reuters
Tributes to the late Steve Jobs are left outside the Apple Store in London
Tributes to the late Steve Jobs are left outside the Apple Store in London October 6, 2011. Technology and design admirers flocked to Apple stores worldwide on Thursday to express their sorrow at the death of Steve Jobs, the visionary who transformed the daily lives of millions. The Apple co-founder who inspired the Macintosh computer, iPod, iPhone and iPad died on Wednesday at the age of 56 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He stepped down as Apple chief executive in August. Reuters
Steve jobs Cancer Steve jobs Cancer