Teddi Mellencamp, former star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and daughter of musician John Mellencamp, has been openly documenting her battle with melanoma since her first diagnosis in 2022.

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Initial Diagnosis: Stage 2 Melanoma (2022)

Teddi revealed on Instagram in March 2022 that she had avoided annual skin cancer screenings due to anxiety. Encouraged by her co-star Kyle Richards, she finally went for a check-up, where doctors removed a “big” spot from her back.

A few months later, a follow-up revealed stage 2 melanoma. She explained:

“I so badly wanted to blow this off… I continue to share this journey because I was a 90s teen, putting baby oil and iodine on my skin to tan it. Never wearing sunscreen or getting my moles checked until I was 40 years old.”

Surgery was the first line of treatment, but doctors discovered additional cancerous moles and recommended wide excision surgery to determine the full extent of the cancer.

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Multiple Surgeries and 17 Melanomas Removed

Since her diagnosis, Teddi has undergone 17 melanoma removals. After having 11 melanomas removed in December 2022, she developed three more within a month and had those, plus two more moles, surgically excised over the next two years.

In December 2024, after 20 surgeries, she shared her relief on Instagram after a skin check-up that didn’t require a biopsy:

“The anxiety always takes over; the thought of another biopsy, another surgery… But today the tears were those of joy. Because for the first time, there wasn’t anything abnormal, nothing that needed an extra look. And I am grateful.”

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Brain and Lung Tumors: Cancer Progresses (2025)

In February 2025, Teddi experienced severe headaches, leading to scans that revealed multiple brain tumors, believed to have been growing for at least six months.

She initially underwent surgery to remove two tumors, but four were removed during the procedure. Subsequent scans revealed three more brain tumors and two lung tumors, all metastases from her melanoma.

Despite the difficult news, Teddi maintained a positive outlook and relied on immunotherapy and radiation for treatment.

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Stage 4 Melanoma Diagnosis (April 2025)

On April 3, 2025, Teddi shared that her cancer had reached stage 4. She expressed the emotional highs and lows:

“Some days I feel really strong and some days I feel really sad and alone… Stage 4 cancer can be scary.”

During a July 2025 appearance on the Jamie Kern Lima Show, she revealed that her doctors gave her a 50/50 chance of survival, but she emphasized her determination to fight:

“I truly believe I’m going to live. I need to believe it. ‘Cause if not, it’s just too sad.”

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Coping with Treatment and Family Support

• Teddi briefly paused immunotherapy in July 2025 due to intense side effects, including fatigue and difficulty speaking.
• She shared lighthearted moments with her father, John Mellencamp, joking about him planning her burial in Indiana while ensuring space for her three children.
• John Mellencamp confirmed in January 2026 that she is still undergoing treatment, experiencing both good days and challenging days during immunotherapy.

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Key Takeaways

• Teddi Mellencamp was diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma in 2022, later progressing to stage 4 in 2025.
• She has undergone 17 melanoma removals, with additional tumors found in her brain and lungs.
• Teddi remains committed to treatment, relying on immunotherapy and radiation.
• Throughout her journey, she has shared both struggles and moments of hope, inspiring others facing serious health challenges.