Channel Seven sports presenter Mel McLaughlin, 46, reveals she is battling lung cancer despite never having smoked – after losing her sister to the same disease at age 39

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Mel McLaughlin is fighting lung cancer and has had part of her lung removed. Sadly, her older sister passed away from the same disease ten years ago.

The Channel Seven sports presenter shared the heartbreaking news of their diagnosis in a special interview with Mark Ferguson on Seven News Wednesday night.

Despite never smoking, the 46-year-old woman had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from her lung, and a significant portion of the lung was removed during the procedure.

In a heartbreaking turn of events, Mel lost her sister, Tara, to the same illness in 2015 when Tara was just 39 years old. This loss inspired Mel to become an ambassador for Lung Foundation Australia.

It’s just… heartbreaking. Neither of them ever touched a cigarette, not once! And now the doctors are saying it might be in their genes, something they were born with. It’s terrifying to think they both ended up with the same awful illness, ten years apart. It feels like some cruel twist of fate, like it was always meant to happen. I just can’t wrap my head around it.

Oh my gosh, I was absolutely floored when I heard! Apparently, poor Brenda McLaughlin got diagnosed with lung cancer back in December. It was so scary, she actually had to have surgery! Can you believe it? They had to remove half of her lung! I’m just so worried about her, but also amazed by her strength. She told Dean Ferguson all about it, and I’m just sending all my love and hoping for a full recovery!

It’s deeply upsetting and brings back difficult memories. It stirs up a lot of feelings, and I also didn’t want to burden anyone with my worries.

Mel shared that receiving her diagnosis around Christmas was incredibly painful, especially since her family had already gone through the heartbreak of losing her sister – a mother of two – ten years earlier.

For my family, lung cancer was always fatal. We experienced it once, and sadly, we lost her,” McLaughlin said, her voice filled with emotion.

It was a cruel twist of fate that she had surgery at the same hospital where her sister had died, needing both the tumor removed and a portion of her lung taken.

Mel found herself in the same ICU where she’d sat with Tara while she was sick, and the realization struck her so powerfully she first cried, then burst out laughing. ‘Is this a joke?’ she wondered.

Mel discovered her cancer early enough to have surgery, but unfortunately, her sister’s diagnosis came too late for that option.

I might have just been fortunate, or perhaps it was my sister who helped me. I really believe she was there for me. That’s just what older siblings do – they protect you, she explained.

Remarkably, Mel continued broadcasting right up until the day before her surgery. She hosted Melbourne’s Boxing Day Test and then the Pink Test in Sydney in early January, all while squeezing in blood tests and scans.

The Pink Test supports the McGrath Foundation, a charity dedicated to fighting cancer. While publicly encouraging donations and raising awareness, McLaughlin was actually facing her own private battle with the disease, showing incredible strength and resilience.

‘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. 

With her cancer caught early, the prognosis is positive. 

‘Recovery is slow but good. They’re happy for now,’ Mel said cautiously. 

Oh my gosh, I’m SO excited! I heard that Colin McLaughlin is planning to be back at work in July, and he’s going to host the Commonwealth Games! But that’s not all – he’s also scheduled to host the Rugby League World Cup in October! I’m already marking my calendar – I can’t miss a single moment!

For now, her goal is raising awareness for a stigmatised illness. 

I didn’t want to focus on my own story; I wanted to raise awareness. Early detection is the biggest factor in surviving cancer, but there’s still a lot of shame and misunderstanding around it, which prevents people from getting checked.

‘I feel like I owe it to my sister. I owe it to people who maybe could get something out of this.’ 

McLaughlin hasn’t been on TV since January and has been receiving treatment for a health issue in private for several months.

She was diagnosed before the start of the summer cricket series last year. 

People began to wonder why McLaughlin was no longer on TV after she stopped appearing in January, with Matthew White taking her place during the evening news.

McLaughlin was thought to be returning to work in February. 

Seven told news.com.au last week that she won’t return to the air until at least March 15th.

The Daily Telegraph reports that after a preview of the interview was released on Wednesday morning, several of Seven’s staff learned about McLaughlin’s health issues.

Mel shared with The Australian Women’s Weekly that she and her sister Tara were always very close, both during their childhood and as adults.

Tara, a police officer with the New South Wales Police, passed away leaving behind her two young sons, Harry and Flynn.

Honestly, it still feels unreal. Every single day since 2022, I think about her – she’s just always in my thoughts. It’s so incredibly tough, especially seeing her children growing up without their mum. It just breaks my heart every time.

The TV host works with Lung Foundation Australia, a charity dedicated to helping people affected by lung cancer.

‘It took me years to get involved. But the mortality rate is disgusting,’ she said. 

‘The Foundation needs more money and attention. Maybe I’m not doing enough, but I’m trying.’

The presenter, originally from Sydney, became well-known after starting at Fox Sports in 2007.

Six years later, McLaughlin was poached by Network Ten to host their Big Bash coverage.

She moved to the Seven Network in 2016.

Oh my gosh, you guys, I was SO shocked to hear this! It’s just…after everything, after ten amazing years with Ashley Westwood – her football manager boyfriend, who I always thought was perfect for her – they actually split up last year. I’m still reeling from it, honestly. It feels like a dream, but a really sad one!

The split reportedly happened shortly after Westwood finished his coaching position at the Hong Kong Football Club in November.

Westwood and McLaughlin kept a very low profile during their relationship.

The pair met in late 2015 while she was in India working for Star TV on contract with Network Ten. 

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2026-03-11 11:34