Mel Schilling has spoken of the agony she was left with before she was diagnosed with bowel cancer, admitting there were times when she “could have gone to that dark place”.
The Married At First Sight star, 52, was diagnosed with the disease just before Christmas after she began experiencing symptoms while filming the Australian version of the show.
Talking to new people! In the magazine, Mel recalled the severe pain he felt while at work, saying: “I was doubled over and screaming; the pain was so intense.”
Her doctors originally thought her symptoms were simply constipation, but she soon became concerned after losing her appetite.
On a trip to Ireland with her husband Gareth, Mel said she was in “a lot of pain” and had trouble keeping food or water down.
Mel Schilling has spoken of the agony she suffered before being diagnosed with bowel cancer and admitted there were times when she “could have gone to that dark place”.
The Married At First Sight star, 52, was diagnosed with the disease just before Christmas after she began experiencing symptoms while filming the Australian version of the show.
Knowing something was still wrong, he went to see a gastroenterologist after returning to London, who was “concerned” about his unexplained weight loss.
Mel had a CT scan and returned a few days later for the results, remembering the heartbreaking moment she was told she had cancer.
She said: “We were sitting in his office and the doctor had a blank stare and I thought, ‘This doesn’t seem right,’ and he said, ‘It’s cancer.’ I think I was numb, I didn’t process it and I went into work mode, That’s all I could focus on.’
The reality TV host revealed her shocking health battle in December and underwent colon surgery just before the end of the year.
He explained that his tumor, which he named ‘Terry’, was removed by doctors in the United Kingdom.
However, as the cancer has spread through the colon and into the muscle, Mel now requires chemotherapy and will begin treatment at the end of February.
He noted that the form of chemotherapy he is receiving is not too taxing on the body, so he will continue to work during treatment.
In December, she informed her followers about her surgery to remove her tumor.
Recalling the severe pain she felt while at work, Mel said: “I was doubled over and screaming – the pain was so intense.”
On a trip to Ireland with her husband Gareth, Mel said she was in “a lot of pain” and had trouble keeping food or water down.
Recalling the moment she was told she had cancer, Mel said: “I think I was numb, I didn’t process it and I went into work mode, that’s all I could focus on.”
‘So yesterday at lunchtime I had eye surgery to remove my tumor (aka Terry’s) and in the words of my amazing surgeon, it couldn’t have gone better!’ Mel said at that moment.
The post accompanied a photo of the TV star in a hospital bed, giving a thumbs up with a tube in his nose.
And he added: “The most important thing is that the cancer had not spread to my abdominal cavity, which was our biggest fear, but was completely located in my colon.”
‘In the next few days I will talk about my future treatment plan, but suffice it to say, Terry is toast!’
Mel then revealed that her treatment had taken place in London and praised the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).
“I also wanted to say that everyone in the UK should be incredibly proud of the people of the NHS,” he added.
‘The NHS is a unique and precious institution and we must ensure it is here to serve our children and our children’s children.
“Now it’s time to focus on getting my ass out of here in time for Christmas.”
Mel, who appears on the British and Australian versions of the show, revealed she had colon cancer in an Instagram post on December 19.
She posted a photo of herself hugging her husband and daughter along with the caption: “You have cancer.” Three little words that everyone fears but no one expects to hear.
“Last Thursday my consultant told me those three words.”
He said he was diagnosed just a month after he started feeling pain in his stomach while filming the upcoming 11th season of MAFS Australia.
‘About a month ago, when I was filming in Australia, I developed severe stomach cramps on set. I attributed it to all the traveling I had been doing and the disruption it caused to my system,” she explained.
“I saw my GP in Sydney and he put it down to constipation, gave me some laxatives and sent me back.”
Despite her doctor’s initial assessment, Mel said she knew her condition was more serious and booked a scan when she traveled to the UK.
“On Thursday I was told I had colon cancer and in an instant my whole life changed,” he wrote.
As well as the UK version, Mel has recently returned to screens alongside fellow experts John Aiken and Alessandra Rampolla for the eleventh series of the Australian version of the hit dating show.