Teddi Mellencamp shares good news amid years of removing 17 different melanoma sites.
The The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 43, revealed in a Dec. 16 Instagram video that she doesn’t need to undergo another biopsy after several skin exams over the past two years. Mellencamp was diagnosed with stage two melanoma in 2022 and has since had 17 cancerous growths removed.
“I just finished with a little cry, but it was good,” the TV personality began the video. “This is the first time, in over two years, that I went for a three-month check-up and didn’t have to have a biopsy because I have another spot of cancer.”
Mellencamp said she and her doctor looked at each other and said, “What?” ”
“Oh my gosh, it feels so good,” she said before noting that she’ll be back in March for another quarterly skin check.
“This should be a reminder to all of you, please, please, book your skin exams, book your mammograms, book your OB appointments, book your eye appointments,” she concluded the video.
After 15 Melanoma Surgeries, Teddi Mellencamp Faces Another One: ‘It’s OK to Have Feelings and Be Afraid’
As Very good health explains, melanoma “is not as common as other forms of skin cancer, [but] that is the most dangerous. It can quickly spread to other organs if not detected early enough.”
When detected early, “surgery is the recommended treatment.” Immunotherapy is another treatment for this type of skin cancer, but as Mellencamp said in December 2023, “Immunotherapy has not worked, it has not been successful.”
Teddy Mellencamp.
Teddy Mellencamp/instagram
Mellencamp also admitted in the title of her post that she “never has an easy time” when she goes to the doctor for regular quarterly skin checks.
“Anxiety always prevails; the thought of another biopsy, another surgery, another addition to the scar on my back,” she said. “And I always end up crying. But today they were tears of joy. Because for the first time, there was nothing abnormal, nothing that required an extra look and I’m grateful.”
The mother of three emphasized how grateful she is to her doctors, nurses, family, friends and followers for their “constant support”.
“As long as you are here, I have a reason to continue to advocate for myself and others,” she wrote.
The Two T’s in a pod the co-host also added a photo of her healed scars. “Scar update. What amazing doctors and nurses I had during these surgeries. Over 1000 stitches later. Get your skin checked please.”
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Teddy Mellencamp/instagram
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Mellencamp’s good news follows her announcement in July that she had to undergo another procedure and have “2 more [spots] removed.”
Mellencamp — who had her melanoma patch surgically removed for the first time in April 15 — said she was nervous before going in for the skin exam that finally diagnosed this latest melanoma.
At the time, she said she was grateful they were caught “within 90 days and [in] earlier stages.”
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Source: HIS Education