Married At First Sight dating expert Mel Schilling has revealed her heartbreaking cancer diagnosis.
The 51-year-old Aussie dating coach took to Instagram yesterday (19 December) to share the news with her 177k followers and opened up about how she and her family are handling the news.
The MAFS star uploaded a photo hugging her husband Gareth Brisbane, 51, and their daughter Madison, eight, with the caption: "YOU HAVE CANCER".
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Mel continued: "Three little words that everyone dreads but no one ever expects to hear. Last Thursday my consultant told me those three words."
She went on to explain that 'about a month ago', she developed 'severe stomach cramps' on set when she was filming in Australia.
"I put it down to all the travel I’d been doing and the upset it caused to my system," she went on. "I saw my GP in Sydney and he put it down to constipation, gave me some laxatives and sent me on my way.
"Fortunately I knew something still wasn’t right so I booked in for a scan when I returned to the UK."
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It was on Thursday that Mel was sadly given the news she had colon cancer, recalling: "In an instant my whole life changed."
She carried on: "John Lennon famously said that life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans, how right he was.
"This week I had planned to travel to Northern Ireland with my family to spend Christmas with loved ones.
"Instead tomorrow morning I’m checking in to hospital to have an operation to remove a 5cm tumour in my colon, a tumour that had it gone undetected for much longer would have killed me."
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Despite the news, however, Mel revealed she feels 'incredibly blessed' that her cancer is 'relatively easy to eradicate'.
She assured fans: "I’m expected to make a full recovery though it’s a rough road ahead. I also feel so lucky to have an incredible support network around me, both personally and professionally, my own family and my TV family have been amazing this past few days."
While saying it will be 'so tough' to spend Christmas Day in hospital instead of being surrounded by family, Mel said getting rid of Terry (what she's named her tumour) will be 'the best present of all'.
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She concluded: "I just wanted to finish by saying that if something doesn’t feel right, please, please don’t ignore it and if you don’t think the answers you have got are right, keep going until you do, it might just save your life."
Friends, family and fellow celebs have since offered their support in the comments with Shona Manderson writing: "Sending you all the love and positivity Mel. I hope this gives you strength: my mum has recently gone through something very similar, she had her tumour removed from her bowel in June this year and after some chemo she’s already planning going back to work in the new year!!! You’ve got this, beautiful strong lady, all the love."
Melinda Willis offered: "No! I’m so sorry to hear this Mel but if anyone can beat cancer it’s you! Sending you so much love and strength to both you and your family. You have an army supporting you."
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"Thinking of you Mel," penned Coleen Nolan, "you’re a force to be reckoned with and you can do this! Sending you so much love."
Charlene Douglas chimed in: "You've got this Mel. Praying for a full and speedy recovery," while Josie Gibson added: "Mel, I am so sorry. I am sending you so much love."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week
Topics: Celebrity, Health, Married At First Sight, TV And Film, Mel Schilling
Rhiannon Ingle