Mel Schilling has sadly been diagnosed with cancer

The dating coach said she was diagnosed with cancer after feeling unwell for weeks.

She explained that she had been suffering from severe stomach cramps on set, but she dismissed the pain. She told herself that the pain was caused by 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."

She said her diagnosis has completely changed her life.

Mel explained that she was planning to visit her family in Northern Ireland this week, but her plans have been completely flipped.

"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 the hospital to have an operation to remove a 5cm tumour in my colon, a tumour that had gone undetected for much longer would have killed me."

Mel is expected to make a full recovery

Despite the shocking diagnosis, Mel said she is blessed that her cancer "is relatively easy to eradicate".

"I’m expected to make a full recovery though it’s a rough road ahead," she added.

Mel said she's incredibly grateful to have such a strong support system during this heartbreaking time.

"My own family and my TV family have been amazing these past few days," she said.

Mel said she will find it hard to spend Christmas Day in hospital but getting rid of her tumour is the most important thing.

"I just wanted to finish by saying that if something doesn’t feel right, please, please don’t ignore it and if you don’t think the answers you have got are right, keep going until you do, it might just save your life."

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