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Teddi Mellencamp is breathing a big sigh of relief after getting good news amid her cancer struggle.
The 41-year-old Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star confirmed on Thursday that she is now cancer-free after having 12 melanoma spots cut out from her back and shoulder area while speaking with People.
The reality star, who previously shared the tentatively positive news that her surgery had gone well, told the publication that she was ‘so grateful’ to have taken care of the cancers in the nick of time.
Teddi also delved into how she first learned that she was suffering from melanomas thanks to the watchful eye of her friend Kyle Richards.
Good news! Teddi Mellencamp, 41, confirmed to People that she is cancer-free on Thursday after having 12 melanomas cut out in the nick of time; seen in October in NYC
Teddi said the two pals and former costars were working out together back in March of this year when Kyle spotted some concerning dark spots on her back.
‘She looked at my back and said, “Listen, I know that I’ve talked to you about these spots before, but they look different — one of them has a black dot in the middle,”‘ Teddi recalled Kyle saying.
The spot turned out to be a melanoma and a signal of stage 2 skin cancer. She would later have 11 more instances of melanoma removed from around that area.
Kyle’s intervention proved to be a lifesaver, as Teddi had been aware of the ‘little patches of white’ below her right shoulder for years, but it had gotten to the point where she was ignoring them.
There wasn’t any doubt that it was cancer one she visited a dermatologist, though.
‘”I’m 99 percent sure this one spot is skin cancer,”‘ she recalled the doctor saying after inspecting her.
Playing it safe: In addition to the two surgeries for 12 melanomas, Teddi also had three lymph nodes removed to check if cancer had spread, and she got a PET scan and genetic testing for cancer susceptibility
Good friend: She recounted how her former costar Kyle Richards (L) urged her to go to a dermatologist after she noticed a new black spot just under her shoulder
‘Just cut it out,’ Teddi said she instructed them. ‘I don’t care if it doesn’t look pretty — get rid of it.’
But her condition worsened by October of this year when the doctor noticed significantly more abnormal spots requiring a bigger intervention.
She was sent to an oncologist who performed several biopsies, which revealed she was dealing with multiple stage 2 melanomas.
‘Apparently it’s very rare to have multiple melanomas in one location,’ Teddi explained.
Unfortunately, the health scare didn’t come out of the blue, as the blond beauty recalled plenty of risky behavior when it came to sun exposure as a young girl.
‘I was outside all the time, I rode horses,’ said the daughter of John Mellencamp and Victoria Granucci. ‘I very rarely wore sunscreen. If anything, I was putting on baby oil and trying to compete for the best tan after spring break.’
Uh oh: Teddi recalled ‘rarely’ wearing sunscreen as a child and spending plenty of time in the sun. ‘If anything, I was putting on baby oil and trying to compete for the best tan after spring break’; seen November 15 in NYC
In total, Teddi underwent two surgeries to remove all of the melanomas, along with three lymph nodes to confirm that the cancer hadn’t spread. She also had PET scan, and she looked to the future with genetic testing, as her family has a history of breast cancer.
‘When I was waiting for the results, I was pretty emotional,’ she confessed. ‘I had to look at my family and be like, “Listen guys, I’m crumbling today. I love you all so much, but mommy’s not going to be her best self today.”‘
Teddi’s husband Edwin Arroyave did his best to help, though he was powerless in the face of the cancer.
‘He wants to be able to fix the problem. Ultimately, I said to him, “You can’t fix this. I just really need comfort right now.” And we both had an emotional moment — and I felt the shift,’ she said.
Luckily, Teddi wasn’t too concerned about the scarring on her back from her surgeries, which her children — Slate, 10; Cruz, eight; Dove, two; and stepdaughter Isabella, 14 — jokingly said looked like a ‘shark bite.’
Anxiety: ‘When I was waiting for the results, I was pretty emotional,’ she confessed. ‘I had to look at my family and be like, “Listen guys, I’m crumbling today. I love you all so much, but mommy’s not going to be her best self today”‘
‘But when you’re not laughing, when you really look at it, you’re like, “Wow, that’s a lot that just happened to my body,”‘ Teddi mused.
It was all good news after her surgeries, as she confirmed that she is now cancer-free, while the genetic testing didn’t find a predisposition for other cancers.
She urged her fans not to hold off on regular testing and checkups, which many people did at the height of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which may be heading back toward a winter surge.
‘During the pandemic, we avoided things that we thought weren’t essential. But skin checks are essential,’ she said emphatically,’ while urging her followers not to let other procedures, like ‘colonoscopies and mammograms,’ be forgotten.
‘We’ve seen how quickly it can turn from one melanoma to 12,’ she added. ‘So when your doctor says, “See you in three months,” it’s three months.’
Play it safe: She urged her fans not to put off regular testing and to go on time. ‘So when your doctor says, “See you in three months,” it’s three months,’ she said; seen November 14 in NYC
Teddi previously shared a hopeful update in her melanoma journey earlier this month, revealing her surgeries were a success.
She took to Instagram to share photos of her back, where 11 melanomas and three lymph nodes were removed.
She also revealed there were no mutations to worry about while also urging her female followers to regularly get mammograms.
She shared a photo of her back and right shoulder with fresh purple scars after the successful surgeries.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star also shared an image, which she revealed on her Instagram story was taken, ‘the first day I went in for a check-up.’
She revealed in the lengthy caption, ‘Finally here with another melanoma update, and it’s one I’m happy to share. Pathology is back— the surgeries were successful and the margins are clear.’
Photos: She shared a photo of her back and right shoulder with fresh purple scars after the successful surgeries
‘I also got genetic testing results and there are no mutations we need to worry about. And I just had a healthy mammogram (please don’t forgo these either, ladies),’ she added.
‘So I say peace out to 11 melanomas and 3 lymph nodes— I gladly hardly knew ya— and hello to a new sense of peace,’ Mellencamp added.
She continued, ‘It’s been eye-opening how quickly things can change and it’s a lesson I will never forget, nor quit speaking up about. I want nothing more than for all of you to be proactive so you do not have to experience this. Let my scars be your inspiration to get preventative care.’
First day: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star also shared an image, which she revealed on her Instagram story was taken, ‘the first day I went in for a check-up’
‘I will now continue to get checked every 4-6 weeks, as my doc says this may be a record number in one area,’ she added.
Mellencamp also joked, ‘You guys know I’m competitive but this is one record I’m not looking to beat.’
‘As always, thanks for all the love, support and well-wishes. I feel very blessed and grateful for it all,’ Mellencamp concluded.
Continue: ‘I will now continue to get checked every 4-6 weeks, as my doc says this may be a record number in one area,’ she added; pictured in October in NYC
The post received over 40K likes in the eight hours since it was posted, with the reality star getting plenty of support from celebs and other Real Housewives.
Iain Ziering commented, ‘Glad you’re okay’ while Real Housewives of Atlanta star Cynthia Bailey said, ‘Good news!’
RHOBH star Dorit Kemsley sent a prayer hands emoji and a heart emoji while Lisa Rinna sent three prayer hands and two red hearts.
Shanna Moakler commented, ‘Im so happy for you! Warrior!’ while Steph Holman added, ‘So happy to hear this.’
Comments: The post received over 40K likes in the eight hours since it was posted, with the reality star getting plenty of support from celebs and other Real Housewives
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