A nurse diagnosed with bowel cancer has shared the subtle 'warning signs' she experienced as MAFS expert Mel Schilling revealed her shock bowel cancer diagnosis.
Talitha Akamarmoi, from the NSW Central Coast, had been suffering from symptoms of chronic fatigue and iron deficiency for about six months before diagnosis.
After needing three iron transfusions, she finally had to undergo a colonoscopy, which discovered a “long” tumor in her colon that was causing the problems.
Other common cancer symptoms include a change in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, anal or rectal pain, lumps, unexpected weight loss, fatigue and anemia.
Talitha's most important advice to all young people is to take care of their health, because colon cancer is not just an “old age disease”.
The warning signs of colon cancer: MAFS expert Mel Schilling receives a heartbreaking diagnosis just before Christmas
“I was completely shocked when I found out, I burst into tears and didn't want to believe it,” the 29-year-old told FEMAIL.
Talitha had to undergo laparoscopic surgery on December 2 last year to remove her entire right half of the colon and surrounding lymph nodes, and then had to wait another week for pathology results.
Unfortunately, the cancer had spread to four lymph nodes, requiring chemotherapy.
“It was so scary knowing I needed chemotherapy because it was such a foreign thing and I didn't know what to expect,” Talitha said, beginning the six-month treatment in January 2022.
One of the hardest things about the whole ordeal was telling her children, aged nine, seven and three months, that she was sick.
Talitha Akamarmoi, from the NSW Central Coast, had been suffering from symptoms of chronic fatigue and iron deficiency for about six months before diagnosis
Symptoms of colon cancer:
– Change in bowel habits with diarrhea, constipation or a feeling of incomplete emptying
– Thin or loose stools
– Blood or mucus in the stool
– Abdominal pain, bloating and cramps
– Anal or rectal pain
– Lumps in the anus or rectum
– Unexplained weight loss
– Fatigue
– Unexplained anemia
Source: Cancer Council Australia
It comes as Married At First Sight expert Mel, who appears on the UK and Australian versions of the show, reveals she has been diagnosed with bowel cancer.
The 51-year-old psychologist and dating coach shared the heartbreaking news in an Instagram post early Wednesday morning.
She posted a photo of herself hugging her husband Gareth Brisbane, 51, and daughter Madison, 8, with the caption: “You have cancer.” Three little words that everyone is afraid of, but no one is afraid of expecting to ever hear them.
“Last Thursday my advisor told me those three words.”
Schilling then shared how she was diagnosed just a month after she experienced stomach pains while filming the upcoming eleventh season of MAFS Australia.
“About a month ago, while filming in Australia, I started having severe stomach cramps on set. “I attributed it to all the traveling I did and the disruption it caused in my system,” she explained.
Other common cancer symptoms include a change in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, anal or rectal pain, lumps, unexpected weight loss, fatigue and anemia
“I saw my GP in Sydney and he put it down to constipation, gave me laxatives and sent me on my way.”
Despite her doctor's initial assessment, Schilling said she knew her condition was more serious and underwent an ultrasound scan during her trip to the UK.
“On Thursday I was told I had colon cancer and suddenly my whole life changed,” she wrote.
Schilling confirmed that she will go to the hospital tomorrow to have a 5cm tumor in her colon removed that would have killed her if it had remained undetected any longer.
She spends Christmas Day in hospital while receiving treatment.
Despite her heartbreaking situation, Schilling said she feels “incredibly blessed” because her cancer was “relatively easy to eradicate.”
Married At First Sight expert Mel, who appears on the UK and Australian versions of the show, revealed she has been diagnosed with bowel cancer. She is pictured with her husband Gareth Brisbane and their daughter Madison