When Schilling revealed her illness in 2023, she said she developed severe stomach cramps a few months beforehand and was initially told she had constipation.
But after a scan, she received her diagnosis of colon cancer, which is a form of bowel cancer.
On 12 March this year, Schilling said the cancer had spread and that doctors had told her “there is nothing further they can do”.
“My light is starting to fade – and quickly,” she wrote at the time.
After her original diagnosis, she underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy while still filming Married At First Sight.
Genevieve Edwards, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, said: “Mel’s courage in speaking so openly about bowel cancer, from her diagnosis through to treatment and everything in between, has already made a profound difference.
“By sharing her story, she has helped raise vital awareness and encouraged countless people to listen to their bodies and contact their GP when something doesn’t feel right. That message has the power to save lives.
“Every 12 minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with bowel cancer, making it the UK’s fourth most common cancer. If you’re experiencing symptoms of bowel cancer like bleeding from your bottom, blood in your poo or a change in your pooing habits, please contact your GP to ask for an at-home test.”
