Married At First Sight expert Mel Schilling has announced her cancer has spread to her brain and there is “nothing further” doctors can do.
The 54-year-old was first diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2023, and had surgery to remove a five-centimetre tumour.
Now, in a heartbreaking Instagram post, the dating coach has revealed her cancer metastasised to her lungs in 2024 and has spread to her brain.
“Over Christmas, I began experiencing blinding headaches and numbness down my right side,” Schilling wrote on Friday morning.
“After many tests I was told the cancer had spread to the left side of my brain and, despite subsequent radiotherapy sessions, my oncology team have now told me there is nothing further they can do.”
Schilling added that despite feeling her “light starting to fade”, she vows to continue to “fight” the horrible disease.
“But I am still here, still fighting, and surrounded by the most incredible love. Simple tasks have become incredibly difficult and I am relying on my beautiful family to look after me,” she said.
“I honestly don’t know how long I have left, but I do know I will fight to my last breath and will be surrounded by the love and support of my people.”
While filming MAFS in Australia and the UK over the last two years, Schilling revealed she’s undergone 16 rounds of chemotherapy and was due to start a groundbreaking new clinical trial this month.
Tragically, however, the progression of the disease means this is no longer possible.
“If I could leave you with one thing, it would simply be this: if something doesn’t feel right, please get it checked out. It might just save your life.
“These two beside me are my everything,” she concluded, alongside a photograph of herself with her husband Gareth and daughter Madison, 10.
In the wake of her sad health update, Schilling has pulled out of filming MAFS UK.
Channel 4, which airs the UK version of the reality experiment, has since issued a statement confirming MAFS Australia expert John Aiken will replace her for the rest of the series.
“All of us at Channel 4 are immeasurably saddened by the news about Mel’s health, and are sending all of our love and support to Mel and her family,” the spokesperson began.
“Over five series of Married At First Sight UK, and 12 series of Married At First Sight Australia, Mel has become a hugely valued and much-loved part of the Channel 4 family…
“MAFS UK is currently filming and, with Mel’s blessing, her good friend and fellow MAFS Australia expert, John Aiken, has done us the great favour of stepping in for her this series.”
The broadcaster also urged fans to donate to the Stand Up to Cancer charity.
Last month, Schilling announced she was quitting MAFS Australia to prioritise her “family, health and time”.
While she did not go into detail at the time, the expert said her “health challenges and living in the UK” had meant travelling to and from Australia was “no longer sustainable”.
Schilling relocated to London with her husband and daughter in 2021.