Mel Schilling, who joined the British spin-off of Married At First Sight in 2016, stepped down from the Australian version of the show after 12 seasons last year. In her personal life, Mel Schilling and her husband Gareth met on eHarmony in 2011, married in 2020, and had a daughter via IVF. Her health struggles began with initial symptoms that included severe stomach cramps, which were misdiagnosed by two doctors as constipation or tiredness.
In 2023, Mel Schilling had a tumor the size of a lemon, which she named Terry, successfully removed through surgery, and she was given the all-clear afterward. By February 2024, she found out her cancer had metastasized to her lungs, and doctors later confirmed that her cancer was terminal, stating there was nothing more they could do. Over two years, Mel Schilling underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy, and recently, she was informed she could be part of a medical trial which was due to start this month.
Over the Christmas period, Mel Schilling started experiencing fresh symptoms including 'blinding headaches'. Channel 4 paid tribute to Mel Schilling, stating it was her and her family's wish to continue airing Married At First Sight, and revealed that John Aiken will replace her on the UK series with her blessing. This Morning released a statement expressing sadness at Mel Schilling's death, as she had appeared as a relationship expert on the show, and MAFS viewers were left emotional by a tribute to her during the season finale reunion episode.
In broader context, MAFS expert Paul C Brunson's mentor, Natural Langdon, died of cancer shortly after Mel Schilling's death. Similar cases of misdiagnosed colon cancer symptoms have been reported, such as Jane Locke, 66, who was diagnosed with rectal cancer in 2021 after initially thinking she had hemorrhoids, Jon Imondi, 44, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2022 after ignoring symptoms like frequent stools, fatigue, and blood in stool, and Jasmin Gobel, who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in November 2024 after symptoms like stomach pain and irregular bowel movements. According to the NHS, the main symptoms of colon and bowel cancer include changes in poo, needing to poo more or less often, blood in stool, bleeding from the bottom, often feeling like you need to poo, stomach pain, a lump in the stomach, bloating, losing weight without trying, and feeling tired or short of breath.
Treatment for bowel cancer varies depending on factors including tumor size, location, spread, genetic changes, age, and general health, and includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted medications. Brain tumours could be identified from symptoms including headaches, seizures, constantly feeling sick/being sick/drowsiness, mental or behavioral changes, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, and vision or speech problems.