FORMER England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson has revealed he is battling can cancer.
Here we take a look at the type of cancer he has, and what he has said about it.
Sven-Göran Eriksson, pictured this week, has been diagnosed with cancerFilip Bohm
What type of cancer does Sven-Goran Eriksson have?
Sven-Goran Eriksson has revealed he has pancreatic cancer, and it’s terminal.
He told a Swedish radio station that he has “at best a year” to live.
In February 2019, Eriksson stepped down as sporting director at Karlstad Fotboll amid serious concerns about his health.
He told Karlstad’s website at the time: “I have chosen to limit my public assignments for the time being, due to health problems which are under investigation.”
What has Sven-Goran Eriksson said about his diagnosis?
On January 11, 2024, Eriksson opened up to Swedish radio station P1 about his cancer diagnosis.
He told P1: “Everyone understands that I have an illness that is not good.
“Everyone guesses it’s cancer and it is. But I have to fight as long as I can.”
When asked about the prognosis, Eriksson said he has “maybe at best a year, at worst a little less, or at best maybe even longer”.
He added: “You can’t be absolutely sure. It is better not to think about it.
“But you can trick your brain. See the positive in things, don’t wallow in adversity, because this is the biggest adversity of course, but make something good out of it.”
Eriksson revealed how he sought medical help after he suddenly collapsed while going on a 5km run.
After consulting doctors, he was told he had suffered a stroke and had incurable pancreatic cancer.
Eriksson said: “They don’t know how long I had cancer, maybe a month or a year”.
Who is Sven-Goran Eriksson?
Eriksson was in charge of the Three Lions’ Golden Generation, taking charge in 2001 and leaving in 2006.
He took England to the quarter-finals in two World Cups and a European Championship.
As well as Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand, Eriksson also had aces like Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Michael Owen on his roster.
During his stellar career, he managed 16 sides across club and country- seeing him travel the globe in pursuit of work.
He brought an end to his managerial career in 2019 after leaving his post as manager of the Philippines national team.
What is pancreatic cancer?
PANCREATIC cancer is the eleventh most common type of cancer in the UK and the sixth highest cause of cancer death.
The disease affects a large gland that is part of the digestive system – the pancreas is located behind the stomach and under the liver.
It has two main functions: dripping digestive enzymes into the gut to help break down food, and releasing the hormones insulin and glucagon to regulate blood sugar.
Pancreatic cancer occurs when malignant – cancerous – cells form in the tissues of the pancreas.
Five signs of the disease that could be mistaken for another condition, or niggle, include persistent stomach ache, backache, indigestion, unexplained weight loss and bowel habit changes.
Other symptoms that might be more obvious include jaundice, difficulty swallowing and vomiting.
Patients may also suffer the symptoms of diabetes because pancreatic disease stops the production of insulin
The causes of the disease are not exactly known but there are several risk factors that can make someone more likely to get the disease.