Relationship expert Mel Schilling, known for her role as a dating coach on Married At First Sight , has spoken candidly about her ongoing battle with stage three colon cancer. Despite the gruelling chemotherapy treatments she's currently undergoing, Mel remains remarkably positive and determined - and is getting through each day with the love and support of her husband Gareth and their nine year old daughter Maddie. The family have now moved to the UK permanently - with Mel leaving her native Australia behind - and have welcomed us into their stunning new home in South West London.
She admits the past six months have been incredibly challenging, but Mel faces it all with admirable honesty . And she's committed to changing perceptions around the symptoms of her type of cancer. After being misdiagnosed twice before her tumour was finally identified, she's keen to use her platform to raise awareness.
Mel Schilling and her family invited us inside their stunning new London home ( Image: David Cummings) However, despite her optimistic outlook and resolve to conquer the disease, Mel doesn't shy away from acknowledging the difficulties that come with chemotherapy. "It's getting tough now," she admits. "I'm about halfway through and it's getting hard.
Feeling fatigued and nauseous is a bigger part of my everyday life. It feels like I'm hungover or pregnant every day, which is not fun. True to her character, Mel started her chemotherapy on the same day they moved house.
"In true 'me' .
