In a heartbreaking twist of fate, Channel Seven sports presenter Mel McLaughlin has revealed she is battling lung cancer, more than a decade after losing her older sister to the same disease.
The 46-year-old broke the news in an emotional interview on “Seven News,” opening up about her surgery, her family, and the painful reality of facing the same illness that once claimed her sister’s life.
McLaughlin has since undergone surgery to remove a malignant tumour, along with a large section of her lung. She has never smoked. Doctors now suspect there may be a genetic link behind the diagnoses that affected both sisters a decade apart.
Mel McLaughlin Says Diagnosis Was ‘Very Traumatic’
McLaughlin told co-anchor Mark Ferguson that she was diagnosed with lung cancer in December and had to move ahead with surgery quickly.
“I was diagnosed with lung cancer in December. So that’s led to surgery. I’ve had half my lung cut out,” McLaughlin said in the interview, as quoted by The Daily Mail. “It’s very traumatic. It’s very triggering. It’s a lot of emotions. And also you don’t want to worry anyone.”
GettyTelling her family was one of the hardest parts. For them, lung cancer is deeply personal and painfully familiar.
“In our family, lung cancer meant death. We had one example, and we lost her,” McLaughlin said.
As per 7News, her beloved sister Tara died in 2015 at just 39, leaving behind two young sons. The grief never fully faded. More than a decade later, McLaughlin now faces the same diagnosis, carrying that history with her as she begins her own fight.
Surgery Took Place at the Same Hospital as Her Sister’s
GettyThere was another deeply personal layer to McLaughlin’s treatment. She had surgery at the same North Shore hospital where her sister once fought for her life.
“I cried, and then I laughed. Is this a joke?” she said, remembering the moment she realized she was in the very ICU where she had visited Tara years earlier.
This time, the outcome was different. Doctors detected the cancer early, and McLaughlin was eligible for surgery. It was an option her sister never had.
“Maybe I got lucky. Maybe that was my sister. I definitely think she was with me. That’s what they do. Big sisters and big brothers, look out for you,” she said.
For now, the outlook is encouraging. “Recovery is slow but good. They’re happy for now,” McLaughlin shared carefully, holding on to cautious optimism.
Mel McLaughlin Continued Working Through Treatment
In an extraordinary display of commitment, McLaughlin remained on air until the day before her surgery. She hosted Melbourne’s Boxing Day Test and Sydney’s Pink Test, all while slipping away for blood tests and scans between broadcasts.
Only later did she question how she managed it.
‘I look back and think, what the hell was I thinking? The intention was good. I know it’s probably a bit crazy,’ she admitted.
The Pink Test supports the McGrath Foundation, which helps families affected by cancer. Even as she faced her own diagnosis in private, McLaughlin continued using her platform to promote awareness and encourage donations.
Raising Awareness for a Stigmatized Disease
McLaughlin says her focus now is bigger than her own diagnosis. She wants to change the way people see lung cancer, a disease she believes carries unfair judgment.
“The reason I want to do it was not to talk about me. It’s awareness. It’s the biggest cancer killer in the country, but it’s got a terrible stigma,” she said.
“I feel like I owe it to my sister. I owe it to people who maybe could get something out of this.”
Her advocacy is deeply personal. After Tara’s death, McLaughlin became an ambassador for Lung Foundation Australia.
The role grew from grief into purpose.
In an earlier interview, she spoke about the lasting impact of losing her sister.
“There’s literally not a day where she’s not in our hearts and thoughts. Every day is hard. Watching our sister’s kids grow up without a mum.”
For now, McLaughlin is concentrating on recovery. According to The Daily Mail, she is planning to return to work in July for the Commonwealth Games, followed by the Rugby League World Cup later this year.
This chapter of her life is not only about treatment. It is about honoring Tara’s memory and reminding others that lung cancer can affect anyone, regardless of background or history.
Cancer recently maybe due to parasites. Ivermectin/Fenbendazole may help or garlic etc..