Terminally ill former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson looks unrecognisable in trailers for an upcoming documentary, in which he shares a farewell message.
The 76-year-old revealed in January that he has pancreatic cancer and said that at “best” he will survive for only a year.
At the end of an Amazon Prime documentary about his life, called “Sven,” which will air on Friday night, Eriksson gave a heartbreaking final message.
“I had a good life,” he said. “I think we’re all afraid of the day we die, but life is also about death.”
While fans took to social media to express their sadness at Eriksson’s deteriorating health, some had questions about his unusually swollen and round face.
Sven-Goran Eriksson has given a farewell message in a documentary that reviews his life
Sven-Goran Eriksson’s rounder, chubbier appearance is a result of his aggressive cancer treatment, experts say
Fans on online forum Reddit commented that he “clearly feels sick.”
Another added: “He looks bloated from steroids, probably prescribed to help with appetite and fatigue.”
Experts told MailOnline that the football hero’s new look is likely the result of a series of aggressive cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and steroids administered to reduce inflammation.
Known as the “silent killer” because of its subtle symptoms, pancreatic cancer kills around 10,000 Britons every year.
Treatments are often useless, as the disease is usually detected in advanced stages. Only 40 percent of patients survive more than five years after diagnosis.
The main treatments for pancreatic cancer include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery.
However, it is steroids used alongside other treatments that can cause swelling, said Professor Tobias Arkenau, consultant medical oncologist at Princess Grace and Wellington Hospital.
Steroids such as dexamethasone, prednisolone and hydrocortisone not only help people cope better with chemotherapy by reducing nausea and preventing adverse reactions, but also give patients a boost to feeling stronger, explains Professor Arkenau.
Sven-Goran Eriksson, pictured before the 2006 FIFA World Cup quarter-final match in Germany, revealed in January that he has pancreatic cancer and said that in the “best case scenario” he only has a year to live.
Pancreatic cancer has been called the “silent killer” because of its subtle signs that are often detected 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 also cause water retention in areas such as the face and neck, which can make the face appear puffy.
“It causes very strong necks and a round face, but it can also cause very thin legs because steroids reduce muscle mass and tone,” explains Professor Arkenau.
Pancreatic cancer can increase your chances of getting a blood clot, and some treatments, such as chemotherapy, also increase your risk, according to Pancreatic Cancer Action.
“Pancreatic cancer poses one of the highest clotting risks,” said Professor Arkenau.
This is because people with pancreatic cancer often have “sticky” blood, according to Cancer Research UK.
One reason for this is that cancer cells produce chemicals that stimulate the body to produce clotting factors, which are proteins produced by the liver to help us stop bleeding.
Blood clots can form in deep veins of the body, usually in the legs, but they can also develop in smaller veins anywhere in the body, such as the face and neck.
The pancreas is a tadpole-shaped organ that is part of the digestive system and also plays a crucial role in hormonal regulation.
It is located just behind the stomach and measures about 25 cm long.
In its digestive function, it helps produce enzymes that help the body break down food into the nutrients it needs.
It is also essential for producing hormones responsible for controlling blood sugar levels in the body.
Potential symptoms of pancreatic cancer include jaundice, in which the whites of the eyes and skin turn yellow, along with itchy skin and darker urine.
Other possible signs include loss of appetite, unintentional weight loss, constipation, or bloating.
While the symptoms are unlikely to be cancer, it is important to get them checked out by a GP early just in case, especially if patients have had them for more than four weeks.