Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave is forever grateful to Kyle Richards.
While emceeing the Melanoma Research Foundation’s 23rd Annual Gala in New York on Thursday, October 24, former The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member, 43, opened up about how Richards, 55, played a major role in her journey with melanoma.
“I’ve talked in the past about how my friend Kyle Richards made me go see this doctor. We were out for a run and she said, ‘Your back looks a little different,'” she shared in an Instagram post speaking at the event. , which helps raise funds to support melanoma education programs, fund research grants, and aid advocacy initiatives at the federal and state levels.
Teddi Mellencamp and Kyle Richards. Phillip Faraone/Getty
“Truth [is] if she hadn’t made me go to that meeting, I don’t know if I’d be here right now having this conversation, but she saved my life,” Mellencamp Arroyave continued. “And as someone with a platform, I know I can use my pain to pay it forward and help others avoid theirs.”
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The former reality star spoke openly about her condition Two T’s in a pod podcast and social media, sharing how her friends and family have been “the most supportive.”
“I could never have imagined the number of people who would text me and say, ‘You’re the reason I got my skin checked’ and ‘I caught something’ or ‘Thank you, you saved my life.’ ”
She expressed gratitude for having a community that allows her to “amplify her voice” in the caption of her post.
“I am grateful to all the doctors, nurses and scientists fighting this battle. And I am especially grateful to all of you who have showered me with love, support and your inspiring stories of resilience and survival,” she wrote. “Last night’s gala was an amazing night that I will never forget.”
Earlier this month, while speaking with PEOPLE, she shared that she was “doing well” after her 16th melanoma surgery.
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Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave shows off her surgery scars.
Teddy Mellencamp/instagram
“I’m really looking forward to continuing to talk about melanoma and being an advocate for people to keep checking their skin, because we all think we’re professionals, but we’re not,” she said.
Although she and Richards remain close, Mellencamp Arroyave also confirmed to PEOPLE that she will not appear in the upcoming 14th season The Real Housewives of Beverly Hillswhich released its dramatic trailer on Thursday.
“I really feel like I’m in a place where, unless an event is really important to one of my best friends, that I’m there to support them, I don’t feel the need to go in that capacity,” said Mellencamp Arroyave, who exited the series after season 10, but made guest appearances in seasons 11, 12, and 13.
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She and Tamra Judge are hosting TwoTscon on November 1 at the iHeart Theater in Los Angeles. Housewives favorites Heather Dubrow, Dolores Catania, Cynthia Bailey and Marysol Patton will be special guests.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills premieres Tuesday, November 19 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on Bravo. Previous seasons The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills can be streamed on Peacock.
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Source: HIS Education