Former Married at First Sight expert Mel Schilling has shared an emotional update on her ongoing battle with stage three colon cancer.
Known for her roles on both the Australian and UK versions of MAFS, the 52-year-old has opened up about her diagnosis, the challenging journey through treatment, and her hope to raise awareness about the often overlooked symptoms of the serious condition.
Mel Schilling Opens Up About ‘Tough’ Cancer Battle
Speaking to The Mirror, Mel reflected on the past six months, admitting, “It’s getting tough now. I’m about halfway through and it’s getting hard.
“Feeling fatigued and nauseous is a bigger part of my everyday life. It feels like I’m hungover or pregnant every day, which is not fun.”
Despite undergoing gruelling chemotherapy, Mel remains remarkably positive and determined, bolstered by the unwavering support of her husband Gareth and their nine-year-old daughter, Maddie.
The family has now settled permanently in South West London, with Mel revealing she began chemotherapy on the same day they moved house.
“In true ‘me’ fashion, the day we moved was the day I started chemotherapy. I don’t do things by halves,” she told the publication.
Mel’s Tough Road to Diagnosis
Mel’s journey to diagnosis was fraught with challenges. Initially misdiagnosed twice, she experienced severe symptoms while filming MAFS last year.
“The last quarter of 2023, I was in Australia filming MAFS and there was a crossover with filming in the UK so I had to fly back and forth,” she said.
“That was hard because it’s a long flight, so you’ve got the tiredness and the jet lag and I’m 52! My body was complaining about all the long-haul flights and I thought that’s all it was.”
However, her condition worsened with rapid weight loss and a loss of appetite.
“My digestive system packed to a halt and I started having stomach pain. I wasn’t paying attention to my body because I was so busy.
“Once I got home, I realised I hadn’t eaten anything in around a week and I hadn’t been to the toilet in three weeks. I’d lost over a stone in weight and I was on a liquid diet by this point,” Mel explained.
A gastroenterologist eventually discovered a five-centimetre tumour in her colon through a CT scan – which the star humorously named ‘Terry’.
Since then, Mel has undergone successful keyhole surgery to remove the tumour and completed five rounds of chemotherapy.
Will Mel Schilling Return To MAFS Australia?
While she’s set to return to Oz later this year to film the newest season of MAFS after shooting for the UK franchise, Mel revealed she “doesn’t miss’ the land Down Under.
“The UK is home now. I still get my Aussie fix when I go over there for work, but I actually don’t miss it,,” Mel revealed.
“It sounds a cliche but, for me, home is wherever Gareth and Maddie are. As a family, we have travelled a lot together, we love to go places and we love adventures. Wherever they are, that’s my foundation.”
Mel’s hope to spread awareness
As she continues her battle, Mel is using her platform to raise awareness and remove the stigma around discussing symptoms of colon cancer.
“I want to get people talking about this and remove the ridiculous stigma we talk about other bodily functions,” she said.
“We talk about boobs all the time when it comes to breast cancer. Let’s talk about poo as well.”
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