A nurse, who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, has shared the subtle ‘warning signs’ she experienced as MAFS expert Mel Schilling revealed her shock diagnosis with colon cancer.
Talitha Akamarmoi, from the NSW Central Coast, experienced symptoms of chronic fatigue and iron deficiency for about six months prior to the diagnosis.
After requiring three iron transfusions she eventually had a colonoscopy that found a ‘long’ tumour in her large intestine causing the issues.
Other common symptoms of the cancer include a change in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, anal or rectal pain, lumps, unexpected weight loss, fatigue and anaemia.
Talitha’s biggest piece of advice to all young people is to be an advocate for your health because bowel cancer isn’t just an ‘old person’s disease’.
The warning signs of bowel cancer as MAFS expert Mel Schilling is hit with heartbreaking diagnosis just before Christmas
‘I was in complete shock when I found out, I burst into tears and I didn’t want to believe it,’ the 29-year-old told FEMAIL.
Talitha had laparoscopic surgery on December 2 last year to remove her entire right half of the colon and surrounding lymph nodes, then had to wait another week for the pathology results.
Unfortunately the cancer had spread to four lymph nodes, and so chemotherapy was required.
‘It was so frightening knowing I needed chemotherapy because it was such a foreign thing and I didn’t know what to expect,’ Talitha said and started treatment in January 2022 for six months.
One of the hardest things about the entire ordeal was telling her children – aged nine, seven and three months – she was sick.
Talitha Akamarmoi, from the NSW Central Coast, experienced symptoms of chronic fatigue and iron deficiency for about six months prior to the diagnosis
It comes as Married At First Sight expert Mel, who appears on the British and Australian versions of the show, revealed she has been diagnosed with colon cancer.
The psychologist and dating coach, 51, shared the heartbreaking news in an Instagram post early Wednesday morning.
She posted a photo of herself hugging her husband Gareth Brisbane, 51, and their daughter Madison, eight, alongside the caption: ‘”You have cancer.” Three little words that everyone dreads but no one ever expects to hear.
‘Last Thursday my consultant told me those three words.’
Schilling then shared how she was diagnosed just one month after she began to feel pain in her stomach while filming MAFS Australia’s upcoming eleventh season.
‘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,’ she explained.
Other common symptoms of the cancer include a change in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, anal or rectal pain, lumps, unexpected weight loss, fatigue and anaemia
‘I saw my GP in Sydney and he put it down to constipation, gave me some laxatives and sent me on my way.’
Despite her doctor’s initial assessment, Schilling said she knew her condition was more serious and booked herself a scan when she travelled to the UK.
‘On Thursday I was told I had colon cancer and in an instant my whole life changed,’ she wrote.
Schilling confirmed she will check into hospital tomorrow to remove a 5cm tumour in her colon which, had it gone undetected for much longer, would have killed her.
She is spending Christmas Day in hospital while receiving treatment.
Despite her heartbreaking situation, Schilling said she feels ‘incredibly blessed’ her cancer is ‘relatively easy to eradicate’.
Married At First Sight expert Mel, who appears on the British and Australian versions of the show, revealed she has been diagnosed with colon cancer. She is pictured with her husband Gareth Brisbane and daughter Madison
