A mother from East Sussex is issuing a vital public health warning about the common symptoms of colon cancer, following the tragic death of Married At First Sight star Mel Schilling. Jasmin Gobel, a 50-year-old resident of St Leonards-on-sea, was diagnosed with the disease in the summer of 2024 and has since undergone extensive treatment, including five cycles of chemotherapy and five weeks of daily radiotherapy.
Recognising the Subtle Symptoms
Jasmin's experience began with what she initially dismissed as period-like pains, which persisted for approximately nine months before escalating to a critical bowel blockage. She emphasises that many people do not associate symptoms such as constipation, alterations in bowel habits, and abdominal discomfort with cancer, leading to dangerous delays in seeking medical attention.
"It really is about catching the symptoms early," Jasmin stated in the wake of Mel Schilling's passing. "The only symptom I had was what felt like period pains, which I had for about nine months before I landed in hospital with a blockage. People don't associate some of the symptoms with cancer - like constipation, a change in bowel movements, and stomach pains - but it's really important to be aware."
A Personal Battle with Diagnosis
After experiencing irregular bowel movements six months following the onset of stomach pain, Jasmin consulted her GP. Initially, medical professionals suspected internal haemorrhoids and a urinary tract infection. However, a subsequent CT scan revealed a blocked bowel, leading to a colonoscopy that confirmed her colon cancer diagnosis.
Her treatment has been rigorous and life-altering, involving surgery to fit a stoma bag, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and a pelvic exenteration procedure that removed multiple organs including her cervix, womb, ovaries, part of her vagina, and lymph nodes.
The Importance of Vigilance
Jasmin, supported by her partner Charlie Evatt, 48, and her 10-year-old daughter, stresses that symptoms often indicate advanced progression of the disease. "When you're having symptoms, you're already quite far down the road, and the symptoms can be so subtle or mimic other things - people don't know what to look out for," she explained. "The treatment is harsh and lifechanging. You never expect to be thrown into such a serious situation when you're not even 50."
A Call to Action for All Ages
While the NHS notes that individuals aged 50 or over are at higher risk for colon cancer, Jasmin highlights that younger people can also be affected. The exact causes of the cancer are not always known, making awareness and early detection paramount.
She urges anyone experiencing persistent symptoms to seek medical advice promptly: "And if you feel like you have symptoms, don't let it go, keep pushing for it to be investigated." Her message aims to prevent others from reaching a crisis point, as seen in the case of Mel Schilling, whose cancer, diagnosed in 2023, spread to her lungs and brain before her death at age 53.
