Married At First Sight expert Mel Schilling reveals excruciating symptoms she ignored before her shock cancer diagnosis
Married At First Sight's Mel Schilling has revealed the excruciating symptoms she ignored prior to her bowel cancer diagnosis in December 2023.
The relationship expert, 53, said she was experiencing significant pain before doctors discovered a 5cm tumour in her ascending colon.
'I had extreme fatigue, unexplained weight loss, complete loss of appetite, prolonged constipation and eventually, the most extreme abdominal pain,' she told 9Entertainment.
'Looking back, it was on par with contractions during childbirth. I put it all down to a big, busy year and thought I just needed a rest.'
Mel has now partnered with Bowel Cancer Australia and Kleenex Australia and launched a campaign urging Aussie to take the uncomfortable step of inspecting their bowel movements for signs of illness.
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'The biggest lesson I've learned is that if I'd listened to my body, if I'd paid attention to the signs, I could have avoided so much pain and suffering,' she wrote on social media.
Mel urged Australians to look out for the following symptoms - Blood in stools and change in bowel habit, weight loss you can't explain, extreme tiredness for no reason and lump or swelling in your abdomen.
The Australian-born reality star said she aims to remove the taboo about openly about the embarrassing topic to raise cancer awareness.
'Perhaps the biggest issue is we are too uncomfortable to talk about our poo. Come on people, we're AUSSIES! Surely, if we can talk openly about sex and money, we can chat about a little poo? Yes?' she wrote.
In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia back in January, Mel opened up about her health journey.
Mel, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer during a busy period of travel between London and Sydney, described how the diagnosis completely shifted her perspective on life.
'I wasn't listening to my body,' she admitted.
'I thought the symptoms—feeling bloated, not sleeping well, and having no appetite—were just jet lag. To find out it was a tumour was such a surprise.'
Fortunately, Mel's is on the mend and is still in remission.
'I feel really strong. I've got my energy back, my spunk back—the spring in my step. There's no stopping me now!' she said at the time.
Mel also revealed the pivotal role her daughter Maddie, 10, played in her recovery.
'She became my little cheerleader. When I couldn't get out of bed, she'd put on shows for me, singing and dancing. That was her way of coping. It lifted me up so much,' she added.
Since going public with her diagnosis, Mel has made it her mission to raise awareness about bowel cancer, particularly for younger people.
Having relocated to the UK, Mel confirmed she now calls London home, with her husband Gareth Brisbane, and daughter Maddie settling into school and thriving.
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