Married at First Sight expert Mel Schilling has revealed she has been diagnosed with colon cancer.
She shared her diagnosis in an emotional Instagram post, saying she had heard the "three little words that everyone dreads but no one ever expects to hear".
She said a month ago she started experiencing severe stomach cramps but put it down to all the travel she had been doing.
"I saw my GP in Sydney and he put it down to constipation, gave me some laxatives and sent me on my way. Fortunately, I knew something still wasn't right so I booked in for a scan when I returned to the UK. On Thursday I was told I had colon cancer and in an instant my whole life changed."
Schilling quoted former Beatle John Lennon, saying: "John Lennon famously said that life is what happens when you're busy making other plans, how right he was.
"This week I had planned to travel to Northern Ireland with my family to spend Christmas with loved ones. Instead tomorrow morning I'm checking in to hospital to have an operation to remove a 5cm tumour in my colon, a tumour that had it gone undetected for much longer would have killed me."
Schilling said she had been told she is expected to make a full recovery "though it's a rough road ahead".
She also revealed she would be spending Christmas Day in hospital "instead of being surrounded by family but getting rid of Terry (what I've named my tumour) will be the best present of all".
She pleaded with fans to ensure if they feel something is not right, "please, please don't ignore it".
Kiwi MAFS expert John Aiken shared a message of support for Schilling too, writing on his social media: "Sending love and prayers to @mel_schilling1. Thinking of you and the fight ahead. We're all in your corner."
In September this year, MAFS relationship expert Dr Trisha Stratford died aged 72.
Stratford was one of the original stars of the reality TV series when it began in 2015.
She remained part of the line-up for seven seasons before announcing in 2020 that she was stepping back ahead of the eighth.
