There’s been an empty chair in the 7NEWS office since January.
The third day of the Sydney Ashes test. The day the nation fundraises for cancer.
Mel McLaughlin opened the Seven Network’s cricket broadcast, then disappeared.
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She’d left in classic Mel style — no fuss, keeping her head down, ahead of one of the toughest conversations of her life.
She’d told a very small group of colleagues from work what had been happening.
She needed some people to know.
She couldn’t carry it on her own.
Then, the people closest to her were next.
She hit the road to see her parents for a conversation they’d had to endure from a daughter before: that she’d been diagnosed with lung cancer.
“It’s just very traumatic, it’s very triggering, it’s just a lot of emotions,” said Mel.
“In our family lung cancer meant death. We had one example, and we lost her.”
She’d left seeing mum and dad till the last minute — less than 48 hours before her scheduled life-saving surgery — because Mel wanted to minimise the number of sleepless nights they’d endure overcome by worry.
Mel always puts others before herself, even now, despite the challenge ahead and the fear of the worst bouncing in her head.
That’s why she was at work till the end.
“I did the pre-game on day three of the SCG test. I went out to a pathology centre, which was closed, then raced back for the lunch break,” she said.
“I often look back and wonder ‘what was I thinking?’ The intention was good, I know it probably is a bit crazy”.
Her family has heard the “C word” before and it ended in tragedy: Mel’s sister Tara died from lung cancer in 2015 at 39 years old.
The thought of entering North Shore Private again — with the memory of her sister’s passing — was, well, nothing short of heavy.
But the brief was clear — we’ve been here before, but this time will be different.
“I cried and then I laughed, thinking, ‘is this a joke?’” said Mel.
Today Mel is missing half a lung.
She’s breathing better now though weeks on from the operation. She still has pain and sleepless nights but most importantly, she’s alive.
She’s fit, healthy, young and doesn’t mind the odd drink but Mel doesn’t smoke — not that anyone deserves this cancer — and she wants that point made very clear.
Mel is intensely private.
She hates the thought of being a “star” and the fact gossip writers take more of an interest in her own life than she does.
But she’s talking about her lung cancer journey because she’s benefited from an early diagnosis and wants others too as well.
Her tumour was detected at an early stage.
Mel’s surgeon Dr Levi Bassin said he rarely sees anyone that early — which made the conversation a very different one to his usual.
Dr Bassin was interviewed by Mel as she tries to increase awareness of lung cancer.
“I can’t imagine what that would have been like to be in the same ICU your sister was in, and the same disease. It is crazy,” Dr Bassin said.
The doctor used a Da Vinci surgery robot nicknamed Tay Tay for the medical staff’s penchant for a Taylor Swift hit to inspire hours-long pressure.
The robot is designed to be placed into war zones to operate on soldiers and is now saving lives in Australia.
Its delicate procedure has had incredible success.
Doctors suspect a genetic mutation triggered Mel’s cancer but a different mutation to her sister’s.
“We looked at the genetics and we don’t think they’re related, but they must be I would think, it’s too weird otherwise,” Dr Bassin said.
What was different — Mel’s tumour was detected early. Tara’s was sadly too late and at a stage where surgery couldn’t be relied on to save her life.
“I definitely think she was looking out for me. That’s what they do, big sisters,” Mel said.
The recovery will be slow but is going well.
Now Mel wants to raise awareness for anyone who might not have picked up early signs.
Lung cancer is the fifth most diagnosed cancer in the nation but Australia’s deadliest.
It is caused by abnormal cells growing in an uncontrolled way.
Mel reflects back on the day in December she was diagnosed with cancer and said she’s going public now to raise awareness.
“Recovery is slow but good. The reason why I’m talking is not to make it about me, but awareness. It’s the biggest cancer killer in the country. It’s got a terrible stigma. I feel like I owe it to my sister and I owe it to people who could get something out of this,” Mel said.
Mel returns to the 7NEWS desk soon and is being fully supported to take whatever time she needs in her recovery.
Seven’s Director of News and Current Affairs, Ray Kuka, said: “Mel is incredibly private, tough and no-nonsense while underplaying anything involving herself, so when she revealed the news about her battle we were in shock.
“I am so proud of how she’s handled the toughest weeks of her life and relieved we could support her in private to get to this incredible outcome where she is on the mend and tackling treatment with her classic Mel McLaughlin resolve.
“She has our unwavering support as she focuses on recovery.
“We miss her presence and humour so can’t wait to welcome her back to the news desk, but at a pace that works for her — as will her many loyal viewers. We will of course continue to give Mel whatever support and time she needs for her journey to full health.”
Despite recent incorrect media reports, Mel was always on the network’s Commonwealth Games team and will be involved in the Rugby League World Cup — in addition to her usual presenting duties on 7NEWS.
Seven’s head of sport Chris Jones said: “Mel is an incredibly resilient person and a much-loved member of our 7SPORT team and as expected, has attacked her treatment with strength, humility and of course, her trademark humour.
“As has always been the plan and if she’s ready, Mel will play a critical role in the network’s Commonwealth Games coverage from Glasgow, doing what she loves most — being in the thick of the action with our golden Australian team.
“We look forward to her sharing more of those moments with viewers on Seven’s cricket and Rugby League World Cup coverage later this year.
“Now Mel has bravely chosen to share what she’s been facing these past few months, we ask for everyone to be respectful while she focuses on her health and wellbeing.”
Raising awareness for lung cancer
The Cancer Council says lung cancer is responsible for almost one in five cancer deaths in Australia and is the leading cause of cancer death in the nation.
The organisation estimates 15,122 people were diagnosed with lung cancer in 2024 with the average age at diagnosis 72 years old.
Symptoms for lung cancer include shortness of breath, changes to the voice such as hoarseness, chest pain, coughing or spitting up blood, a new cough that does not go away, chest infection that lasts more than three weeks or keeps coming back, enlarged fingertips, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss and tiredness.
The Cancer Council promotes the National Lung Cancer Screening Program — a free initiative from the Australian government designed to detect lung cancer early in people most at risk.
The program uses a CT scan to look for lung nodules before symptoms appear and is eligible to millions of Australians on Medicare.
And for people dealing with a diagnosis, the Cancer Council reminds people that if found early, over 65 per cent of lung cancers can be successfully treated with less invasive procedures.
“The earlier the cancer is found the better the treatment outcomes will be,” the organisation says.
