Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen suffered in terrible pain caused by a septic shock that led to his death on Oct. 15, a report disclosed recently.
A death certificate obtained by TMZ showed that septic shock and immunosuppression were listed as the causes of death. The conditions were brought about by his lingering non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which returned after being treated for it in 2009.
The 65-year-old billionaire, a respected tech giant known to have collaborated with Bill Gates to establish the software behemoth Microsoft, recently announced that his cancer had reappeared after being in remission for almost a decade.
He had been successfully treated for the condition three times until cancer returned recently.
Writing on his blog weeks before his death, Allen mentioned that his doctors have started the treatment upon diagnosis. Defiant as he was always been, Allen said he intended to "fighting this aggressively."
"A lot has happened in medicine since I overcame this disease in 2009. My doctors are optimistic that I will see good results from the latest therapies, as am I," Allen continued in his blog post.
He assuaged concerns that he might need to divert his attention to his treatment. Instead, he maintained that he would continue to be updated in his interests such as Vulcan, the Allen Institutes, the Seahawks and Trail Blazers.
"I have confidence in the leadership teams to manage their ongoing operations during my treatment,' he wrote.
Septic shock, which the Mayo Clinic describes as the third and final stage of sepsis, occurs when chemicals released by the body to fight off infections trigger inflammation instead, setting off organ failures that lead to death. These chemicals can cause excruciating pain in the body, particularly muscles.
Estimated to be worth around US$20 billion, Allen has diverse interests spanning from technology and media companies, real estate holdings, and a bevy of professional sports teams such as the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL and the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA.
Allen reportedly intended to consider buying the Chelsea Football Club, days before being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Writing for the Wall Street Journal, Bill Gates described his providential meeting with Allen in 7th grade, "and it changed my life."
The pair went onto build Microsoft, the world's largest software company, from the ground up.
"Paul deserved more time in life. He would have made the most of it. I will miss him tremendously," Gates said.
The tech community mourned the death of Allen, extolling the contributions of the man whom they described as a pioneer and "a force for good."
