Mel Schilling has joyfully announced that she’s in the clear from colon cancer, a year on from her grim diagnosis. The “Married At First Sight” celebrity, aged 52, spoke candidly about her battle and subsequent recovery after enduring months of intense chemotherapy, which concluded last July.
Feeling “strong and healthy”, Mel recounted the life-changing news of her remission – a diminution or disappearance of symptoms post-treatment. She described the revelatory moment, saying: “I was spending some time in Australia and went to see a local oncologist, who had my scans. He was so positive and told me the cancer was in remission, which was a surprise. My sister was there with me and we both just couldn’t believe it. We went back home and popped open a bottle of champagne, while dancing around our apartment.”
Sharing the immense relief the news brought, she added: “When I was told I was in remission, it was like my shoulders dropped and I finally allowed myself to feel it. It’s like I’d been holding my breath for a year, telling myself, ‘It’s going to be OK, it’s going to be OK’ – and now I could finally just breathe.”
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Throughout her ordeal, Mel has received unwavering support from her husband Gareth Brisbane and their daughter Maddie, 10. Reflecting on informing Gareth about her remission, she said: “I called Gareth to tell him and he just burst into tears. We both did, it was amazing and emotional.”
While Mel’s daughter, Maddie, was a pillar of support for her, she confesses that she didn’t reveal the full extent of her cancer to the young girl, but did explain ‘enough’. Mel shared: “Maddie understood enough, when I was having chemo and she knew I’d be very emotional in the days following it. I’d have a lot of tears and difficulty walking at times. So she was definitely aware.”, reports the Mirror.
Mel’s shocking diagnosis came after experiencing severe stomach pain and finding herself completely unable to eat or use the toilet.
After being misdiagnosed with constipation twice, she was finally given the heartbreaking diagnosis of colon cancer. Despite still working and appearing on MAFS throughout her cancer treatment, Mel admits it wasn’t to her full capacity and she didn’t feel quite like herself on set.
But now, she is happy, healthy and eager to makeup for lost time, as she chuckles, “The new MAFS cast better watch out because I’m back, baby.”