“It’s pretty painful, but I’m so thankful they did such a good job,” the ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ alum said.
Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave is on the mend again after another melanoma surgery.
Tuesday, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum posted a series of videos on her Instagram Story documenting her visit to the hospital for major surgery to remove her 13th melanoma after immunotherapy cream treatment failed in recent months.
The 42-year-old told her followers that all the kind messages “totally warmed my heart” as she shared a photo of skin cancer on her back before going under anaesthetic. She also updated fans after the surgery, hoping it would be her last.
“I came out of surgery. Now I’m just waiting to be discharged to a nursing facility. It’s quite painful, but I’m very grateful that they did such a good job,” she said from her hospital bed before letting out a deep sigh. “Gee, that skin on the back is tight…a fight bus, but I hope they got it all right.”
Mellencamp later shared another snap as she was being transported to a care facility, telling her followers that her recovery so far has been “a lot of bloody pain, but it’s worth it.”
Teddi Mellencamp shows off her melanoma before surgery.
Teddy Mellencamp/Instagram
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Before Mellencamp’s surgery, her husband Edwin Arroyave sent her a heartfelt message on Instagram, praising her strength alongside an intimate photo of the couple revealing Mellencamp’s scars on her back.
“As Teddi goes into the biggest surgery of her melanoma journey today, I just wanted to share how her absolute strength through it all has been nothing short of amazing,” Arroyave wrote. “I know this battle is close to winning and I can’t wait to see how it continues to affect everyone around me. I love you mom.”
In the comments section, Mellencamp received plenty of well-wishes, including from some of her fellow stars.
“The prayer for this journey will be behind her after today. I love you my strong friend ❤️🙏”, he said The Real Housewives of Orange County star Tamra Judge, who also battled skin cancer.
“Praying for your family, for the doctors and for Teddi 🙏🏼,” wrote former Miss USA Nia Sanchez The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Drew Sidora commented: “Praying for my friend and you too 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 Looking forward to her full recovery, which is on the way🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽”
Mellencamp later reposted the photo on her Instagram Story, adding, “I love you baby. Thank you for your love and support.”
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Teddi Mellencamp and husband Edwin Arroyave.
Teddy Mellencamp/Instagram
Teddi Mellencamp reveals she is undergoing surgery to remove another melanoma: ‘I caught this one early’
The reality star’s surgery came a week after she posted a tearful video on her Instagram Story explaining that immunotherapy treatment had not worked for the melanoma on her back.
“I just cried a lot,” she said, letting out a big sigh. “I just got a call from the doctor that the immunotherapy didn’t work, it wasn’t successful.”
“So I have two different options,” Mellencamp explained. “I can do a big skin graft on my stomach or my arm, but that’s a very long recovery, or I can go in for another wide excision surgery on December 26th. They’re going to send in a plastic surgeon too because it’s such a big area and then I just keep getting checks every three months.”
“So here we are. People, check your skin,” she added.
On September 13, Mellencamp announced on Instagram that she had been diagnosed with melanoma for the thirteenth time in the past year.
Since then, Mellencamp — who was first diagnosed with stage two melanoma in October 2022 — has been transparent about her health battle and treatment plan in hopes of encouraging others to stay vigilant with skin exams.
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