Mel Schilling, a dating expert on the reality series Married at First Sight, has announced that her cancer is terminal. The 54-year-old psychologist, who joined the show in 2016, shared the news on Instagram on Friday, stating that doctors have exhausted all treatment options.
Schilling was first diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2023 after a tumour the size of a lemon was discovered. Following surgery, she was initially given the all-clear, but the cancer later returned in her lungs. She underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy while filming MAFS and was eligible for a clinical trial set to begin in March 2026.
However, over Christmas, Schilling began experiencing severe headaches and numbness on her right side. Tests revealed the cancer had spread to her brain, and despite radiotherapy, her oncology team informed her there was nothing further they could do. “I honestly don’t know how long I have left,” she wrote, adding that she will continue fighting.
Schilling thanked fans for their support and urged others to seek medical advice if something feels wrong. Nine Entertainment, the network behind MAFS, expressed deep sadness, calling Schilling “family” and offering support to her husband Gareth and daughter Maddie.
