Married At First Sight star Mel Schilling has opened up about her cancer battle with a heartbreaking new update for fans.
The show’s longtime relationship expert, 52, revealed her diagnosis last year, along with the news that she had undergone surgery and also begun chemotherapy in the UK.
Speaking to UK radio station MagicFM this week, Schilling admitted she was feeling “flat”.
“I’m feeling a little flat today actually, to be totally honest with you,” she told the hosts, explaining that she was on her third round of chemo, which she described as feeling “like I’ve been drinking all night.”
“It sort of feels like being hungover,” Schilling said.
“I’m just now trying to find the way to juggle everything, because I’m not stopping working. This thing is not beating me, I’m here to fight, I just need to make some adaptions.”
Schilling revealed in December that she had sought medical advice weeks ago after feeling “severe stomach cramps” on set while filming the latest season of MAFS.
Doctors first put it down to constipation, but she knew something was not right with her body and requested a scan – which is when they found the cancer.
“Fortunately I knew something still wasn’t right so I booked in for a scan when I returned to the UK,” she shared on Instagram alongside of a photo of her hugging husband Gareth Brisbane and their daughter Madison, 8, in front of their Christmas tree.
“I was told I had colon cancer and in an instant my whole life changed.”
Just days later, Schilling shared another update with her 210,000 followers, revealing the 5cm tumour found in her colon – which she nicknamed Terry – had been successfully removed by doctors.
“Terry, you are the weakest link … goodbye!” she captioned a selfie from her hospital bed.
“So yesterday lunchtime I had keyhole surgery to remove my tumour (AKA Terry) and in the words of my amazing surgeon it couldn’t have gone any better!”
The psychologist and dating coach, who is receiving treatment in the UK, said that the cancer thankfully “hadn’t spread to my abdominal cavity”, which doctors had initially feared.
“Over the coming days I will discuss my treatment plan going forwards but suffice to say that Terry is toast!” she added.
Schilling concluded her update by thanking both fans for their support and the work of National Health Service (NHS) staff in the UK.
“I have been absolutely blown away by the countless messages of support I have received from all of you beautiful people, I am so very touched and can honestly say it’s made a difference, so thank you all,” she wrote.
“I also wanted to say that everyone in the UK should be incredibly proud of the people of the NHS.”