MAFS expert Mel Schilling's sad cancer battle update: 'Getting tough now'

Married At First Sight’s relationship expert Mel Schilling has shared an update on her cancer battle as she undergoes chemotherapy. The 52-year-old TV personality announced in December that she had been diagnosed with stage three colon cancer and subsequently underwent surgery to remove her tumour.

Mel has now opened up about the side effects of the chemotherapy treatments she is currently undergoing, telling The Mirror this week that “it’s getting tough now”.

“I'm about halfway through and it's getting hard,” she said. “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.”

The mother-of-one went on to share that she began her chemotherapy on the same day she and her husband Gareth moved to their new home in South West London, which marked their permanent move from Australia to the UK.

“In true ‘me’ fashion, the day we moved was the day I started chemotherapy. I don't do things by halves,” she remarked.

“It's been a tricky time as I've been adjusting to going through that and moving house. But Gareth has been doing most of the move so I'm very lucky he's happy to pick up the slack.”

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During an interview with Magic FM last month, Mel shared that she was on her third cycle of chemotherapy and had to make some changes to her busy schedule, which involves being an expert on both MAFS Australia and MAFS UK as well as a public speaker and an ambassador.

“This thing is not beating me. I’m here to fight, I just need to make some adaptions,” she said. “Time is [important]. Building space in my schedule because… I love my work and just kind of doing my passions, so for me it’s very tempting just to say yes to everything.”

Mel was 'doubled over in pain' filming MAFS

Mel, who is expected to return to Australia in a few months to film the upcoming twelfth season of MAFS, told Yahoo Lifestyle in January that she first knew something wasn't right with her health when she developed stomach cramps while filming the season 11 reunion in Sydney late last year.

“At the reunion dinner party I was doubled over in pain and then during the whole reunion shoot, I was just trying to smile through the pain and just get through it,” she detailed.

“I didn't know what it was, I thought it was jet lag. I really did. I just thought I'm working too hard, it’s the travel, I'm just not taking care of myself. I really didn't think it was anything else.”

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Mel was initially misdiagnosed with constipation by two doctors before a CT scan revealed a 5cm tumour in her colon, and she is now using her platform to encourage others to prioritise their health and have regular check-ups.

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