‘My light is starting to fade’: Married at First Sight star has brain cancer

Married at First Sight (MAFS) personality Mel Schilling says there’s nothing more doctors can do as cancer has spread to her brain.

The 54-year-old Australian TV host wrote on social media on Friday morning that signs cancer had returned appeared over Christmas.

Alongside a picture of herself with her husband, Gareth, and daughter, Maddie, she wrote: “I began experiencing blinding headaches and numbness down my right side. After many tests I was told the cancer had spread to the left side of my brain and, despite subsequent radiotherapy sessions, my oncology team have now told me there is nothing further they can do.”

Schilling is best known for her role as a relationship coach on the Australian and UK version of the reality TV programme, MAFS.

At the end of 2023 she was diagnosed with colon cancer “the size of a lemon”, which was removed, and she was “given the all clear”.

However, in February 2024 a routine scan found “small nodules” in her lungs. Over 16 moths, while filming MAFS, Schilling underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy.

However, the cancer has now metastasised to her brain.

“But I am still here, still fighting, and surrounded by the most incredible love. Simple tasks have become incredibly difficult and I am relying on my beautiful family to look after me,” she wrote in Friday’s update.

“I honestly don’t know how long I have left, but I do know I will fight to my last breath and will be surrounded by the love and support of my people.”

Schilling stepped back from her role on MAFS this year to focus on her health. Season 13 of the Australian version of the controversial programme is currently airing in NZ.