MARRIED At First Sight expert Mel Schilling has issued a new health update after being diagnosed with bowel cancer.
The 52-year-old star underwent surgery in London in December 2023 to remove the tumour and has since been undertaking chemotherapy sessions in a bid to get better.
She was given the devastating news after suffering severe stomach cramps while filming the latest Australian series.
Mel spoke out about her condition as she walked the red carpet of the 2024 BAFTA TV Awards.
The E4 star admitted her health was still “up and down” but insisted that she was feeling positive on her road to recovery.
Speaking to The Sun, Mel said: “Overall, I am doing well and I am halfway through my chemo treatment now.
“Ultimately it is up and down – some days I have no energy left in the tank and other days I have a lot of energy.”
Mel revealed that she had also felt empowered by being honest about her battle with the disease and insisted she wanted to use her public platform to break down stigma’s surrounding bowel cancer.
She told us: “I’m so glad I spoke publicly about it.
“My message is to listen to your body if anything feels wrong and to get it checked out.”
Despite her health woes, Mel has been busy filming an upcoming series of Married At First Sight and has teased that it is set to be the most explosive yet.
Mel confessed: “There are things that happen this time around that even shocked us [the experts].
“This is a very different series and a very different group of people coming through.
“They are the type of people you would bump into in Tesco and you’ll see a lot more people that represents the UK.”
Mel, alongside co-stars Paul C. Brunson and Charlene Douglas, will be putting their expertise to good use later again this year when the hit E4 show returns.
The three were pipped to the post by Netflix’s Squid Game: The Challenge in the Reality category at last night’s big ceremony.
