Mel McLaughlin, the 46-year-old Channel Seven sports presenter, battles lung cancer after losing half her lung to surgery. Diagnosed in December despite never smoking, she confronts the same illness that killed her older sister Tara in 2015 at age 39.
Early Detection Saves Life
McLaughlin underwent surgery at North Shore Hospital to excise a malignant tumor and a large section of her lung. Her cancer was detected early, unlike her sister’s late-stage diagnosis. ‘I was diagnosed with lung cancer in December. So that’s led to surgery. I’ve had half my lung cut out,’ McLaughlin stated in a recent interview.
Doctors suspect a genetic link, as neither sister smoked. Recovery progresses slowly but positively. ‘Recovery is slow but good. They’re happy for now,’ she added cautiously.
Family Heartbreak and Emotional Toll
Sharing her diagnosis with family over Christmas reopened wounds from Tara’s death. Tara, a mother of two and senior constable with New South Wales Police, left sons Harry and Flynn behind. ‘In our family, lung cancer meant death. We had one example, and we lost her,’ McLaughlin said, visibly emotional.
The surgery at the same hospital—and same ICU—intensified the pain. ‘I cried, and then I laughed. Is this a joke?’ she recalled. Yet, McLaughlin credits her sister: ‘Maybe I got lucky. Maybe that was my sister. I definitely think she was with me.’
Working Through the Illness
Remarkably, McLaughlin hosted broadcasts until the day before surgery. She covered Melbourne’s Boxing Day Test and Sydney’s Pink Test in early January, juggling scans and blood tests. The Pink Test supports the McGrath Foundation, where she promoted donations despite her secret battle. ‘I look back and think, what the hell was I thinking? The intention was good,’ she admitted.
Raising Awareness as Ambassador
As an ambassador for Lung Foundation Australia, McLaughlin fights stigma around lung cancer, Australia’s leading cancer killer. ‘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 explained. ‘I feel like I owe it to my sister.’
Absent from screens since January, she plans a July return for the Commonwealth Games and October’s Rugby League World Cup.
Personal Updates
McLaughlin recently split from boyfriend Ashley Westwood after 10 years. The British football manager left his Hong Kong coaching role in November 2024. The couple met in India in late 2015 and maintained a low profile.
