Mel Schilling spoke about the first symptoms of bowel cancer she experienced before she was diagnosed with the disease in 2023.
The Married At First Sight expert said she first noticed severe stomach cramps while filming in Australia, but initially believed the pain was caused by travel and stress.
She later went to a doctor who told her the problem was likely constipation and gave her laxatives. However, she felt something was still wrong and decided to get further tests when she returned to the UK.
Doctors then discovered a tumor in her colon, which she later described as being about the size of a lemon. She underwent surgery to remove the tumor followed by chemotherapy treatment.
Over time, the cancer spread to her lungs and later to her brain, and she later revealed she had been experiencing blinding headaches and numbness on one side of her body.
Health experts say common symptoms of bowel cancer can include changes in bowel habits, blood in stool, stomach pain, weight loss, and constant fatigue, and people are urged to see a doctor if symptoms continue for several weeks.
Schilling had spoken publicly about her illness to raise awareness and encouraged people to get checked if something does not feel right.
Her family confirmed she died surrounded by her family after a long battle with cancer.
