Seven presenter Mel McLaughlin revealed her battle with lung cancer on Wednesday night. The popular host and presenter has not been seen on air since the Sydney Ashes cricket Test at the start of January.
On Wednesday night’s 7News bulletin, McLaughlin, 46, bravely shared her experience.
“I was diagnosed with lung cancer in December,” she said. “So that led to surgery. I’ve had half my lung cut out.
“It’s very traumatic. It’s very triggering. It’s a lot of emotions. Obviously, you don’t want to worry anyone. In our family I didn’t want anyone to think lung cancer meant death, we had one example and we lost her.”
McLaughlin explained that her diagnosis was especially tough for her family, as they lost her older sister, Tara, to lung cancer a decade ago.
After months away from the newsroom and growing questions about her absence, Mel McLaughlin is now ready to break her silence and share her story. pic.twitter.com/75UhM52ZcB
— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) March 11, 2026
Mel McLaughlin’s lung cancer diagnosis
McLaughlin said she delayed getting the surgery because she wanted to work the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the pink Sydney Test.
“I did the pre-game (in Sydney), went out to a pathology centre. I then came back and took the lunch break. And then I had major surgery the next day,” she said. “The intention was good. It probably sounds a bit crazy.”
McLaughlin is keen to return to TV screens for the Commonwealth Games and Rugby League World Cup later this year, when she’ll head up Channel 7’s coverage. “Recovery is slow, but good,” she said. “The reason why I wanted to talk about it now is awareness. It’s the biggest cancer killer in the country.”
Lung cancer is commonly associated with smoking, but McLaughlin is a non-smoker. “It’s got a terrible stigma,” she said. “I feel like I owe it to my sister, and I owe it to people who could get something out of this.”
Ray Kuka, Channel 7’s Director of News and Current Affairs, said in a statement: “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.”
Top image: Mel McLaughlin reveals cancer diagnosis. Image: Twitter