💖 “I FOUGHT… AND I’M STILL HERE!”:Seven News star Mel McLaughlin makes a powerful emotional return to work after lung ca:ncer sᴜrgery, with her first words back on air sparking concern, admiration, and unanswered questions about what she endured behind the scenes

Mel McLaughlin returned to work on the Seven News sports desk on Sunday after undergoing surgery for lung cancer.

The 46-year-old had a malignant tumour removed from her lung, along with a large section of the organ, earlier this year.

Telling presenters Mark Ferguson and Angela Cox it was ‘great to be back’, Mel thanked viewers for their support.

‘It’s been truly overwhelming, and it’s appreciated, so thanks, everyone,’ she said.

Mel also took to Instagram to acknowledge her milestone in an emotional statement.

‘First day back,’ she wrote alongside a photo of her posing with her colleagues in the studio.

Mel McLaughlin returned to work on the Seven News sports desk on Sunday after undergoing surgery for lung cancer

‘First day back,’ she wrote alongside a photo of her posing with her colleagues Angela Cox and Mark Ferguson in the studio

‘Remembered how to read and didn’t run out of breath – I’ll take that for now.

‘My wonderful, beautiful, dysfunctional work family held my hand and dealt with my nerves and anxiety. Poor kids having to put up with me!

‘It’s a start.

‘Extremely overwhelmed and touched by all of the messages, and sharing of so many of your own stories, thank you doesn’t quite seem enough, but it’s very much appreciated.’

Seven presenters Sally Bowery, Natalie Barr, and Abby Holmes, were among the many followers who posted messages of support.

‘Mel looked and sounded just perfect,’ the Sunrise star said, while Sally added, ‘Great to see you back.’

‘You’re the best. Welcome back ❤️,’ said AFL commentator Abby Holmes.

Mel’s battle with lung cancer is the same disease that claimed her big sister’s life a decade ago.

‘My wonderful, beautiful, dysfunctional work family held my hand and dealt with my nerves and anxiety. Poor kids having to put up with me!’ she said

The beloved presenter went public with her devastating diagnosis in an exclusive Seven News interview with Ferguson in March.

Mel lost her older sister, Tara, to the same disease in 2015 at the age of 39, leading her to work as an ambassador for the Lung Foundation Australia.

Neither woman was a smoker, and doctors believe there may be a genetic link that led the siblings to suffer from the same illness ten years apart.

‘I was diagnosed with lung cancer in December. So that’s led to surgery. I’ve had half my lung cut out,’ she revealed in the interview.

‘It’s very traumatic. It’s very triggering. It’s a lot of emotions. And also you don’t want to worry anyone.’

Mel explained it was utterly heartbreaking sharing the news of her own diagnosis with her family at Christmastime, after the death of her sister, who was a mother of two.

Most astonishingly, Mel continued to work on the air until the day before her operation, hosting Melbourne’s Boxing Day Test and then Sydney’s Pink Test in early January, in between rushing off for blood tests and scans.