Married at First Sight’s Mel Schilling ‘feeling positive and confident about the future’ as she shares health update amid her battle with colon cancer

Married At First Sight relationship expert Mel Schilling has said she is ‘positive and confident about the future’ amid her battle with bowel cancer.

The Aussie, 52, announced she had been diagnosed with the disease in December and had undergone both surgery and chemotherapy after experiencing symptoms while filming the Australian version of the show.

Mel, who has since become an ambassador for colorectal charity Occtopus, told PA: ‘My operation was a 90-minute keyhole procedure under general anesthetic and a spinal block.’

‘I was in hospital for five days and returned to my normal eating and toileting habits soon after the operation’ before returning to work part-time three weeks after the operation.

She continued, “I would say my energy levels are about 70% now that I’m on chemo and I’m experiencing a little fatigue, bloating and nausea, but nothing too taxing. My prognosis is good and I look to the future positively and confidently.’

The Australian announced in December that she had been diagnosed with the disease and had undergone both surgery and chemotherapy

Before adding: ‘By raising awareness and reducing the fear factor around bowel cancer, we can make a tangible difference in preventing and combating the disease.’

Speaking to Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden on Heart Breakfast earlier this month, Mel opened up again about how she was feeling.

She told the hosts that she was “doing well” and revealed that she had a week off chemotherapy, which has given her energy.

Mel said the type of chemo she is receiving will not make you feel unwell and will not cause her to lose her hair, but will leave her with ‘tingling fingers’.

Jamie said: “In terms of speaking honestly, you shared with your fans last year that you were diagnosed with cancer.

‘You have been very honest and open about that. First of all, how are you?”

“Thanks,” Mel replied. ‘I am fine. So this is currently a week off in my chemo cycles, and so I have quite a lot of energy today. I am fine. Thank you.’

Jamie asked, “How are you feeling about chemo, because I remember my mom going through it and it was hard.”

Mel, who has since become an ambassador for colorectal charity Occtopus, told PA: ‘My operation was a 90-minute keyhole procedure under general anesthetic and a spinal block’

She continued, “I would say my energy levels are about 70% now that I’m on chemo and I’m experiencing a little fatigue, bloating and nausea, but nothing too taxing. My prognosis is good and I feel positive and confident about the future.

“It’s probably not the group of people you would expect to see on Married at First Sight or any reality TV show.

‘It’s a different type of person. And I think a lot of our audience will find it very relatable. I think you’ll see it a little differently in Britain next season.’

It comes after Mel opened up about the pain she was in before her cancer diagnosis.

Speak with new! magazine last month, Mel recalled the severe pain she suffered at work, saying: ‘I was lying over and screaming – the pain was so intense.’

Her doctors initially thought her symptoms were simply constipation, but she soon became concerned after she lost her appetite.

During a trip to Ireland with her husband Gareth, Mel said she was in ‘so much pain’ and struggled to keep food or water down.

Speaking to Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden on Heart Breakfast earlier this month, Mel opened up again about how she was feeling

Knowing something was still wrong, she went to a gastroenterologist after returning to London, who was ‘concerned’ about her unexplained weight loss.

Mel underwent a CT scan and returned a few days later to get her results, recalling the heartbreaking moment she was told she had cancer.

She said: ‘We were sitting in his office and the doctor looked blank and I thought, “This doesn’t seem right,” and he said, “It’s cancer.” I think I was numb, I couldn’t process it and went into work mode, that’s all I could concentrate on.’

The reality TV host revealed her shock health struggles in December, undergoing intestinal surgery just before the end of the year.

She explained that her tumor – which she has named ‘Terry’ – had been removed by British doctors.

However, when the cancer spread through her colon to the muscle, Mel discovered she needed chemotherapy and began treatment in late February.