Terminally ill former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson looks unrecognisable in previews of an up and coming documentary, in which he shares a goodbye message.
The 76-year-old revealed in January that he has pancreatic cancer and said in a ‘best case’ scenario he will survive just one year.
Speaking at the end of an Amazon Prime documentary about his life, called ‘Sven’, to be aired on Friday evening, Eriksson gave a heartbreaking final message.
‘I had a good life,’ he said. ‘I think we are all scared of the day when we die, but life is about death as well.’
While fans took to social media to voice their sadness about Eriksson’s declining health, some had questions about his unusually puffy and round face.
Sven-Goran Eriksson has given a goodbye message in a documentary looking back on his life
Sven-Goran Eriksson’s rounder and puffier appearance is a result of his aggressive cancer treatment, experts say
Fans on online forum Reddit commented that he is ‘clearly unwell’.
Another added: ‘He looks bloated from steroids probably prescribed to help with appetite and fatigue.’
Experts have told MailOnline that the football hero’s new appearence is likely the result of an assault of aggressive cancer treatments — including chemotherapy and steroids given to reduce inflammation.
Dubbed the ‘silent killer’ due to its subtle symptoms, pancreatic cancer kills about 10,000 Brits every year.
Treatments are often futile as the disease is usually spotted at late stages. Only 40 per cent of patients will survive more than five years after diagnosis.
The main treatments for pancreatic cancer include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery.
However, it is the steroids used alongside other treatments that can cause swelling, said Professor Tobias Arkenau, consultant medical oncologist at The Princess Grace and The Wellington Hospital.
Steroids such as, dexamethasone, prednisolone and hydrocortisone not only help people manage chemotherapy better by reducing sickness and preventing bad reactions, they also give patients a boost to feel stronger, Professor Arkenau explains.
Sven-Goran Eriksson, pictured prior to the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Quarter-final match, revealed in January that he has pancreatic cancer and said in a ‘best case’ scenario he only had a year left to live
Pancreatic cancer has been dubbed a ‘silent killer’ due to its subtle signs that are often only spotted too late
He added: ‘The side effects unfortunately are swelling of the face and swelling of the neck, it’s quite common.’
Steroids not only increase appetite, but the drugs also cause water retention in areas like the face and the neck, which can make the face appear swollen.
‘It causes very strong necks and a round face, but it ca also cause very thin legs because, on the other hand, muscle mass and tone is reduced on steroids,’ Professor Arkenau said.
Pancreatic cancer can increase the chances of getting a blood clot and some treatments, such as chemotherapy, also increase the risk, according to Pancreatic Cancer Action.
‘Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest risk of clotting,’ Professor Arkenau said.
That’s because people with pancreatic cancer often have ‘sticky’ blood, according to Cancer Research UK.
One reason for this is because the cancer cells make chemicals that stimulate the body to produce clotting factors, which are proteins made by the liver to help us stop bleeding.
Blood clots may form in the deep veins of the body, usually the leg. But they can also develop in smaller veins anywhere, such as in the face and neck.
The pancreas is a tadpole-shaped organ that forms part of the digestive system and also performs a crucial role in hormone regulation.
It is located just behind the stomach and is about 25cm in length.
In its digestive role, it helps produce enzymes that help the body break down food into the nutrients it needs.
It is also critical in making hormones responsible for controlling blood sugar levels in the body.
Potential symptoms of pancreatic cancer include jaundice, where the whites of the eyes and skin turn yellow, alongside itchy skin and darker urine.
Other possible signs include loss of appetite, unintended weight loss, constipation or bloating.
While symptoms are unlikely to be cancer it is important that they are checked out by a GP early just in case, especially if patients have had them for over four weeks.
