First bowel cancer symptoms experienced by Mel Schilling as MAFS legend dies

Warning: This article contains discussion of cancer which some readers may find distressing.

Before she died, Married at First Sight star Mel Schilling had spoken about her first symptoms of bowel cancer.

The TV icon sadly passed away at the age of 54, with her family announcing today (24 March) that she had been 'surrounded by love' at the end.

"Melanie Jane Brisbane-Schilling passed away peacefully today, surrounded by love," the statement from Schilling's family, written by her husband Gareth Brisbane, said.

"In her final moments, when I thought cancer had taken away her ability to speak, she ushered me closer and whispered a message for Maddie and me that will sustain me for the rest of my life.

"It took all of her remaining strength, and that gesture summed up our wee Melsie perfectly. Even then, her only thought was for Maddie and me."

Her first symptoms of bowel cancer

Schilling had revealed her cancer diagnosis in December 2023 in a social media post where the Married at First Sight star had explained her first symptoms, which caused her to seek a doctor's opinion.

She said: "About a month ago, when I was filming in Australia, I developed severe stomach cramps on set. I put it down to all the travel I’d been doing and the upset it caused to my system.

"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 said she's been planning to spend that Christmas in Northern Ireland with her family but instead would be going into hospital to have a tumour 'the size of a lemon' removed from her colon.

She said the tumour would have been fatal if it had 'gone undetected for much longer', and later provided an update saying keyhole surgery to remove the tumour had been a success, and she was next set to go in for three months of chemotherapy.

'My light is starting to fade — and quickly'

Sadly, doctors later told her following a 'routine scan' that the cancer had spread to her lungs.

In a post she wrote a week before she died, Mel said she had been through 16 rounds of chemotherapy and had previously been told she was eligible for a 'groundbreaking clinical trial' to start in March 2026.

Unfortunately, she explained that over the Christmas period she started suffering from 'blinding headaches and numbness down my right side', and was told the cancer had also spread to her brain and there was nothing more doctors could do.

She wrote: "My light is starting to fade — and quickly. 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. 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."

What are the main symptoms of bowel cancer?

According to the NHS, potential symptoms of bowel cancer to be on the lookout for include:

• Changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you
• Needing to poo more or less often than usual for you
• Blood in your poo, which may look red or black
• Bleeding from your bottom
• Often feeling like you need to poo, even if you've just been to the toilet
• Tummy pain
• A lump in your tummy
• Bloating
• Losing weight without trying
• Feeling very tired or short of breath – these are signs of anaemia, which can be caused by bowel cancer

Having any of these symptoms for three weeks or more is a sign to go and see a doctor, while having poo that is black or dark red or bloody diarrhoea means you shouldn't wait and ought to book an urgent GP appointment.

Bleeding from the bottom or lots of blood in the toilet means you should go to A&E.

The symptoms may not be bowel cancer, but it's important to get seen to and have a doctor find out what they are.

Mel Schilling's husband's emotional tribute in full

"Melanie Jane Brisbane-Schilling passed away peacefully today, surrounded by love.

"In her final moments, when I thought cancer had taken away her ability to speak, she ushered me closer and whispered a message for Maddie and me that will sustain me for the rest of my life. It took all of her remaining strength, and that gesture summed up our wee Melsie perfectly. Even then, her only thought was for Maddie and me.

"This is a woman who became a new mum and a TV star at 42 — and nailed both.

"This is a woman who, through two years of chemotherapy, when she could barely lift her head from the pillow, never complained and never stopped showing courage, grace, compassion and empathy, and never missed a day of filming.

"To most of you, she was Mel Schilling — matriarch of MAFS and queen of reality TV. To Maddie and me, she was our wee Melsie: an incredible mum, role model, and soulmate.

"On behalf of our family and her incredible friendship group, thank you for the support from around the world.

"I also want to thank our wonderful MAFS family — John, Alessandra, Charlene, Roxy, and Sophie — for your kindness and compassion.

"To Lee, Louie, Susy, and Ian at Channel 4 / CPL, who went above and beyond for us, we will never forget it.

"To Sarah at InterTalent, not just an agent, but a true confidante.

"And to the wonderful Elizabeth Day — Mel’s podcasting partner and dear friend — thank you for your friendship and empathy.

"Life can be beautiful, and life can be incredibly cruel. But ultimately, life is fleeting, fragile, and tomorrow is promised to no one. If you can do anything to honour Mel, please live life to the full, love your people well, and try not to sweat the small stuff.

"I had 15 wonderful years with my soulmate, and it was the privilege of my life to be by her side. For that, I will be forever thankful.

"Goodbye, my love. My one. Until we meet again."

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.