Teddi Mellencamp offers an immunotherapy update and reveals how long she'll need treatment for
The 43-year-old reality star and daughter of singer John Cougar Mellencamp was diagnosed with Stage 2 melanoma skin cancer in 2022, which was upgraded to Stage 4 earlier this year after suffering from numerous brain tumors.
She revealed in late April that the brain tumors have significantly shrunk and she's potentially just a few weeks away from being cancer-free.
The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star offered another update on her Two T's In a Pod podcast with Tamra Judge, where she called in from her actual immunotherapy appointment.
'Today I had the scan and where they checked my lungs and they are shrinking and one of them has shrunk so much you can barely even see it,' she said.
Mellencamp added, 'So it's really really good news. I'm definitely so relieved. I'm also a little bit like, if I sound a little weird, it's because I'm in the middle of them in a therapy treatment right now. But what they said was this is good news. That means my body is responding to everything. But I do need to live on immunotherapy for the next two years.'
The 43-year-old reality star and daughter of singer John Cougar Mellencamp was diagnosed with Stage 2 melanoma skin cancer in 2022, which was upgraded to Stage 4 earlier this year after suffering from numerous brain tumors
'So every four weeks for the next two years, I have to come in and get that done. So and then every three months I get another scan and we check to make sure that everything is where it is,' she added.
Teddi admitted she was a bit confused, adding, 'I thought that, like, once the tumors start going away, I'm like, so, does that mean I'm cancer free? And he's like no.'
'He's like you, we will let you know when you're in remission. But at this point, everything's just heading the correct way,' she added.
When Tamra asked if the immunotherapy was 'curing' the cancer or 'controlling' it, Mellencamp said, 'both.'
'It's making sure that it's getting smaller and then let's say that it gets so small that it disappears. It's making sure that it won't form anywhere else in my body,' she said.
She added, 'The reason they were able to do this treatment on me, because remember radiation didn't work and the tumors were getting bigger, and like I was only able to get certain surgeries is because over at Cedars Clinic.
'There is everything in one spot. So because of that, they can do multiple treatments and figure out what works for you individually. So I think what ends up happening to a lot of people,' Teddi said.
Teddi said that was one reason she is, 'so grateful that I live in California,' adding, 'they go to you know, they have to go to all these different doctors at different locations, where mine is kind of like a one stop shop.'
The update comes just a month after she said doctors gave her a 50/50 chance to survive her cancer.
'I am going to keep a positive outlook, because that's the way my doctor just spoke to me. He was like, "you did this. You got this."'
Toward the end, she added that her doctor had jokingly reassured her, 'You got that Mellencamp blood, so you're good.'
Teddi, who previously said she felt she was on her 'deathbed', was pictured smiling in the video, as she told her fans the positive news, admitting that the happy 'crying' was already done.
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"For example, Bupa offers a remote skin assessment service which allows dermatologists to review images of skin concerns without needing a GP referral in most cases." Clare O'Connor, suncare scientific advisor at Boots, adds: "A Mole Scanning Service, which is operated by ScreenCancer, is available in selected Boots stores and provides an accessible way of checking anything you may be concerned about.' What is melanoma, what are the symptoms and how can you prevent it? Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer that has a tendency to spread around the body. It is diagnosed 16,000 times per year, and tragically takes the lives of 2,340 people per year. The number of people being diagnosed with melanoma is increasing, and it is the 5th most common cancer in the UK. But it is also one of the most preventable cancers, with 86 per cent of cases in the UK avoidable. The best way to protect yourself from melanoma is to be sun safe - wear SPF every day, wear a hat and sunglasses and keep out of the sun in the hottest hours. It is also advised to avoid sunbeds. People who are fair-skinned, have blue or green eyes, blonde or red hair and a large number of freckles or moles are more likely to get skin cancer. Surgery is the main treatment for melanoma, particularly if it is found early. This will involve removing the affected tissue in the skin. Radiotherapy, medicines and chemotherapy are also sometimes used to try and stop the cancer from growing. Treatment depends on the severity of the disease. What are the symptoms? The key thing to look out for are changes to an existing mole, or a new mole on your skin. Most experts recommend using the simple 'ABCDE' rule to look for symptoms of melanoma skin cancer, which can appear anywhere on the body. There are five letters/words to remember: A symmetrical – melanomas usually have two very different halves and are an irregular shape B order – melanomas usually have a notched or ragged border C olours – melanomas will usually be a mix of two or more colours D iameter – most melanomas are usually larger than 6mm in diameter E nlargement or elevation – a mole that changes size over time is more likely to be a melanoma A mole that changes size, shape or colour may be a melanoma. But other signs to look out for include moles that are: Swollen and sore Bleeding Itchy Crusty How deadly is it? Melanoma is a deadly form of skin cancer. The outlook of a person's disease depends on the stage of the cancer when it was diagnosed. Survival is better for women than it is for men. 'We don't know exactly why this is. It may be because women are more likely to see a doctor about their melanoma at an earlier stage,' says Cancer Research UK. The charity says that generally, statistics show that in England, more than 85 out of every 100 people (more than 85 per cent) will survive their melanoma for 10 years or more after they are diagnosed. Around 100 per cent in England diagnosed with melanoma at stage 1 - when the cancer cells are only in the top layer of skin - will survive for five years or more after drops to 80 per cent for stage 2. Some 70 per cent live for a further five years when they are diagnosed in stage 3, which is when the cancer has started to spread to nearby lymph nodes. At stage 4, when the melanoma has spread elsewhere in the body, almost 30 per cent survive their cancer for 5 years or more. Cancer Research says the stage 4 data does not account for age differences. Age can affect outlook and younger people have a better prognosis than older people. Age can affect outlook and younger people have a better prognosis than older people. What is melanoma? Melanocytes are cells in the skin that give us the colour of our skin because they produce a pigment, known as melanin. When you sit in the sun, melanocytes produce more pigment (a sun tan), which spreads to other skin cells to protect them from the sun's rays. But melanocytes are also where cancer starts. Too much UV causes sunburn, and this is a sign of damage to the skin's DNA. The UV triggers changes in the melanocytes, which makes the genetic material become faulty and cause abnormal cell growth. People who burn easily are more at risk of skin cancer because their cells do not produce as much pigment to protect their skin. Those with albinism are at the most risk because their skin produces no pigment at all.
