“Married at First Sight” actress Melanie Schilling, 51, revealed she has colon cancer after first experiencing stomach cramps while filming in Australia. She underwent surgery to remove a 5-centimeter tumor from her colon.
Colonoscopies are the most effective way to screen for colon cancer, according to our experts.
The advantage of a colonoscopy is that your doctor can remove any polyps found during the test. Many colon cancers can be caught on colonoscopy before they develop or when the polyps are small enough to be removed without surgery.
The American Gastrointestinal Association lowered the recommended initial age for a colorectal screening from 50 to 45.
Colon or colorectal cancer affects your large intestine (colon) or the end of your intestine (rectum).
Actress Melanie Schilling, 51, enters the holiday season with the emotional news she has cancer. The “Married at First Sight” star learned she had cancer after first experiencing stomach cramps while filming the popular television show. Although she and her family are still coping with the unexpected diagnosis, she is sharing her cancer journey so other people will take swift action once they begin experiencing unusual symptoms.
“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,” Schilling wrote in an Instagram post.
Despite her doctor dismissing her symptoms as benign constipation and offering laxatives as a remedy, Schilling always suspected more was going on.
“I knew something still wasn’t right, so I booked in for a scan when I returned to the U.K.,” she said.
Getting a second opinion from a different doctor proved helpful for the mother of one.
“On Thursday, I was told I had colon cancer, and in an instant, my whole life changed,” she said.
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 30: Mel Schilling arrives at the 61st Annual TV WEEK Logie Awards at The Star Gold Coast on June 30, 2019, in the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Schilling underwent an operation to remove a 5-centimeter tumor.
“A tumor that had it gone undetected for much longer would have killed me,” she said.
Despite the nerve-wracking cancer diagnosis, Schilling says she feels “incredibly blessed that it’s a cancer that is relatively easy to eradicate” and that she’s expected to make a full recovery.
She has her family by her side, offering the actress much-needed support. Supportive fans online also showered Schilling with added support.
“Bloody hell, Mel!!! Sending enormous love, I know you’ll beat this bastard with speed and determination. Much love to you and your family, and just take each day right now,” Instagram user and author Anna Williamson commented.
Colon cancer is very treatable and curable if caught early. Colon cancer screenings can involve at-home tests such as Cologuard, but a colonoscopy is more effective, according to SurvivorNet experts. A colonoscopy involves a long, thin tube attached to a camera to examine the colon and rectum. If no polyps are discovered, the following screening won’t be needed for ten years. Polyps are small growths in the colon that are not yet cancerous but can potentially develop into cancer.
“When we see a polyp, we actually physically take the polyp out through the colonoscope,” Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal cancer surgeon and Director of the Cedars-Sinai Colorectal Cancer Center, explained.
The cancer starts when abnormal lumps called polyps grow in the colon or rectum. It takes up to 10 years for a colon polyp to become full-blown cancer, according to SurvivorNet experts.
The most poignant signature of colon cancer includes a change in bowel habits. This may include constipation or diarrhea due to changes in the size or shape of bowel movements. A change in stool color, mainly black or tarry stools, can indicate bleeding from a tumor that lies deep in the colon.
Other symptoms can be harder to pinpoint, such as abdominal pain and unintentional weight loss. Finally, some tumors bleed a small amount over a long period, resulting in anemia (low red blood cell count) that is picked up on blood work.
When to Screen for Colon Cancer?
The American Gastrointestinal Association lowered the recommended initial age for a colorectal screening from 50 to 45.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends guidelines that state colon cancer screenings should begin at 45 years old. This is in response to the increase we see in colon cancer diagnoses in younger adults. However, many insurance companies still do not cover the cost of screenings for those under 50. In the past, the disease had predominantly been found in adults 50 years or older, but for those predisposed to getting it at a younger age, these new guidelines could help catch it earlier.
WATCH: The value of getting a colonoscopy.
The best and most complete way of screening is a colonoscopy every ten years. You should get your first colonoscopy at age 45, but the guidelines differ depending on your risk category. If you have a close relative who has colon cancer, a rule of thumb is to get screened ten years before their age of diagnosis to make sure any growths or cancers are caught early. If you have several family members who had colon cancer or family members who got it at a young age (less than 50 years old), it may be necessary to undergo genetic screening. If you have a lot of polyps on your colonoscopy or if you have had colon cancer previously, you will need a colonoscopy every 3 to 5 years.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you are facing a colon cancer diagnosis, here are some questions you may ask your doctor.
What are my treatment options based on my diagnosis?
If I’m worried about managing the costs of cancer care, who can help me?
What support services are available to me? To my family?
Could this treatment affect my sex life? If so, how and for how long?
What are the risks and possible side effects of treatment?
Kavontae Smalls is a writer and reporter for SurvivorNet. Read More
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