Married At First Sight dating expert Mel Schilling has given a health update following her colon cancer diagnosis two years ago.
The 53-year-old updated her fans of the news that her cancer is in remission earlier today (13 January), whilst also encouraging her fans not to dismiss two health-related symptoms if they hope to avoid a cancer diagnosis.
In December 2023, the Australian TV star first first announced her cancer diagnosis in the caption of an emotional snap of herself hugging her husband Gareth and their daughter Madison.
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"YOU HAVE CANCER," Mel wrote at the time. "Three little words that everyone dreads but no one ever expects to hear. Last Thursday my consultant told me those three words."
And ever since, she has kept fans, friends and family in the loop with all things health, speaking regularly about both the most overlooked symptoms as well as the realities of treatment.
As we say, however, the mother-of-one's cancer is now officially in remission.
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Appearing on ITV to chat with presenter Lorraine Kelly today, she began by admitting: "Ahh Lorraine it’s been a year. Christmas Eve last year, I just got out of hospital and I just made it home in time for Christmas.
"It was pretty grim. I was just feeling very grateful to be out of hospital but still in a lot of pain and recovering."
Mel went on to explain: "So fast forward a year to the Christmas we have just had, it was my first cold Christmas and we went crazy. We went Christmas crazy!"
The reality TV star underwent keyhole surgery and chemotherapy last year while filming the most recent series of MAFS UK, where she was a resident relationship expert alongside Charlene Douglas and Paul Brunson.
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Speaking previously to The Mirror about the treatment, Mel admitted back in November last year: "The team was just crowding around me to give me as much flexibility and support as they possibly could.
"They really cared for me. It wasn't easy, but it was so wonderful to be able to work because it enabled me to still feel like me."
And today, not only did Mel discuss the current status of her cancer, but she also opened up about the symptoms she attempted to ignore prior to her diagnosis.
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"I think one of the big issues that came out of this for me is that I wasn’t listening to my body," she confessed. "I was just full speed ahead, doing my job, travelling the world, doing my thing and living my best life, but all of these symptoms were happening in my body and I wasn’t paying attention."
In particular, Mel admitted to having ignored two major signs of bowel cancer - 'pain and constipation'.
"I hadn’t been to the toilet in three weeks by the time it became acute, and I somehow managed to ignore that," she said.
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Encouraging others not to ignore such symptoms, Mel went on to say: "Particularly as women, if we have symptoms in the abdominal region generally we say ‘I’ve got to toughen up - that’s something to do with my cycle’.
"Or ‘It’s a hormonal issue’ and we’ve grown up knowing every month we have pain and we just have to get on with it.
"So we have that tendency to grin and bear it and I think there is a flow there to the medical profession where they are very quick to dismiss a woman with pain."
Speaking of cancer in general, Mel added: "It’s not an old person's disease anymore.
"It used to be thought of that way but I’ve been flooded with messages from people in their twenties and thirties who have said ‘I’ve had the same diagnosis as you Mel’ or ‘I’m having similar symptoms. Thanks for the nudge, I’m going to get it checked out'."
She concluded: "So I think my message is, if you’re having symptoms if you’re noticing a change in your bowel habits, let’s not be scared to talk about it anymore - it’s just poo."
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: Mel Schilling, Celebrity, Cancer, Health, Married At First Sight, Married at First Sight UK, Reality TV
Rhianna Benson