Real Housewives' Teddi Mellencamp says doctors failed to spot stage 4 cancer spreading
Reality TV star Teddi Mellencamp has said that doctors didn't realise that her cancer was spreading to her brain and lungs. She's also opened up about having not requested scans that could have spotted the metastasized tumours.
Teddi, 44, who is best known for having been on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, shared that she had been diagnosed with skin cancer in 2022. She's since said to have had 17 spots of melanoma removed from her back.
Then, earlier this year, she told fans that doctors hadn't realised that the cancer had spread. She announced that stage four tumours in her brain and lungs had been found, adding that doctors suspected that they had been growing for at least 6 months by the time they were discovered.
Teddi, who competed on the US version of Celebrity Big Brother the same year that she shared her initial diagnosis, had emergency brain surgery, radiation and immunotherapy treatment after the secondary cancer was found. She's continued to share updates with fans since then.
Whilst interviewed by her pal and former RHOBH co-star Kyle Richards for Glamour magazine recently, Teddi spoke about having not questioned why she didn't have certain scans after the initial melonamos were identified. It came after Kyle suggested that she would ask for scans to detect potential spreading if she had "that much" skin cancer and it's "that aggressive". She however said "that wasn't ever brought up" to Teddi.
Sharing her thoughts on her experience, Teddi said: "When you go to a doctor, you just assume that's it." She told Kyle that she thought she was doing what she was "supposed" to do and admitted to not researching herself initially because she didn't want to know "the bad things".
Teddi, who's the daughter of singer John Mellencamp, added in the interview published earlier this week: "I never really thought about it because I was like, I go to a doctor every three months. Why wouldn't they get me checked?"
She said that her "highest" melanoma on her shoulder had been stage one. Teddi said that when she "finally followed up on it" she was told that scans hadn't been done because she "didn't have" anything above stage one on her body.
In the interview, Teddi, who said that she's "patiently" waiting for the day that she's told she's "cancer-free," also shared advice for fans, including telling them to trust their gut instinct. She recalled having not felt well for a "long time" before seeking medical attention, admitting that she had "self-diagnosed" instead.
Her comments come after she announced in February that her cancer had metastasized to her brain. She said at the time: "For the last several weeks I've been dealing with severe and debilitating headaches. Yesterday the pain was unbearable and required hospitalisation. After a CT scan and MRI, doctors found multiple tumours on my brain, which they believe have been growing for at least 6 months."
Teddi told fans that two tumours would be surgically removed and that the remaining smaller ones would be dealt with through radiation. She added: "I am blessed to be surrounded by my children, family, friends, doctors, nurses and surgeons who are doing everything possible to get me back into better health."
Two weeks later though, Teddi announced that two more tumours than "expected" had been removed. Then in March, she said that multiple tumours in her brain weren't able to be removed via surgry and that she also had two tumours in her lungs. She said: "These are all metastases of my melanoma. The doctors are hopeful that immunotherapy will effectively treat them."
The following month, Teddi told fans: "All tumours stage 4 (metastasized melanoma in my brain and lungs) shrunk or disappeared so I have 6ish more weeks of immunotherapy and doctors believe I will be healed if everything stays on course."
Reflecting on her experience, she wrote in April: "It's been 76 days since I went to the ER with unbearable headaches and quickly found out I had multiple stage 4 tumors 'the size of plums' in my brain and lungs. Melanoma had metastasized there and been there for '6 months to a year' and we had no clue."
The Macmillan Support Line offers confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. If you need to talk, call us on 0808 808 0000.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
Danielle Lloyd shares skin cancer update from hospital as she sends urgent warning to followers
The former glamour model gave her followers an update. Danielle Lloyd has undergone surgery after being diagnosed with skin cancer. The former Celebrity Big Brother star opened up about her health battle in February on social media, telling her followers that she has melanoma. The former glamour model had a mole checked over by a doctor and this week, Danielle revealed that she had an operation to have it removed. Danielle spotted the unusual mole on her torso, which needed to be surgically removed and sent for a biopsy. However, she will have to wait several weeks to find out if the unusual mole was cancerous or if it was benign, writes The Mirror. "It only looks small, but it's definitely changed in colour and size," she said to her social media followers. She went on to add: "I was a little bit apprehensive when I was waiting, but then I was absolutely fine going in." Sharing a glimpse of the marking on her torso, the model commented: "I had to laugh because it looked like they'd drawn the evil eye on my belly." Upon heading home, the star told fans that she had been in some discomfort, but it wasn't anything to worry about. She said: "When I got home, I was a little bit sore and a little bit swollen, but overall, I'm just looking forward to getting some positive results." However, she later encouraged her online followers to "know the signs" and to protect themselves from the sun. Captioning her post, Danielle said: "Trigger Warning. Today I had another surgery to remove another mole — this time on my stomach. We're hoping it's just a precaution, but I'll be waiting 8–10 weeks for results. Please don't ignore any changes to your skin. "I never thought this would happen to me… until it did. Early detection saves lives — skin cancer is highly treatable when caught early. If something doesn't look or feel right, see a doctor. Protect your skin: Use high SPF, cover up, say no to sunbeds. Look after yourself and those around you." One of Danielle's followers asked if she would consider going private due to results being processed in around 72 hours. "I've been using the NHS yes the results take a long time but they have been amazing," she replied. "Sending all the good vibes to you my friend," said one follower. Meanwhile, skin cancer charity Skcin commented: "Thank you for raising vital awareness. If in doubt, get it checked. Wishing you a speedy recovery with no further treatment." Meanwhile, another fan commented: "Thanks for bringing awareness of this horrible disease. We all need to take extra precautions with sun cream, stay off sun beds and get checked. Hope you heal quickly." As another penned: "Not many people talk about this subject, so it's nice to see you raising awareness.. Wishing you a speedy recovery @missdlloyd." But Danielle was quick to shut down misinformation surrounding suncream when one follower exclaimed: "Check ingredients in sun cream!! Chemicals awareness!" She typed back: "That's actually false information and it's people posting causing people to believe it if suncream was harmful, it wouldn't be sold in shops out beauty and health industry is so heavily regulated honestly, it's a load of rubbish." One fan questioned Danielle's response, claiming that there was no "false information," to which Danielle replied: "Well when I went to Westminster a few weeks ago to speak about sun safety I was told it's false information? Some non-branded ones maybe but people on TikTok have been spouting false information and making people throw away suncream and not use it which is so dangerous." The model became emotional earlier this year when she confirmed she'd been diagnosed with the condition following a routine six-month check-up, during which her moles were examined. She said: "I don't really know how to say this, and I didn't know whether to come on and say this, but I feel like I have to raise awareness of this kind of thing happening to other people. "Today I have been diagnosed with a form of skin cancer. I just want to raise awareness for anyone who thinks they've got something funny on their body, they see a mole growing, which is not normal - please please please go to your doctor because honestly, you just never know." The Macmillan Support Line offers confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. If you need to talk, call us on 0808 808 0000.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Danielle Lloyd hospitalised in heartbreaking skin cancer update
Danielle Lloyd has undergone surgery months after being diagnosed with skin cancer. The former Celebrity Big Brother star revealed to fans on social media in February that she had been diagnosed with melanoma. But this week, she said she had undergone an operation after noticing an unusual mole on her torso, which needed to be surgically removed and sent for a biopsy. Danielle will have to wait several weeks to find out if the unusual mole was cancerous or if it was benign. "It only looks small, but it's definitely changed in colour and size," she said to her social media followers. She went on to add: "I was a little bit apprehensive when I was waiting, but then I was absolutely fine going in." Sharing a glimpse of the marking on her torso, the model commented: "I had to laugh because it looked like they'd drawn the evil eye on my belly." Upon heading home, the star told fans that she had been in some discomfort, but it wasn't anything to worry about. She said: "When I got home, I was a little bit sore and a little bit swollen, but overall, I'm just looking forward to getting some positive results." However, she later encouraged her online followers to "know the signs" and to protect themselves from the sun. Captioning her post, Danielle said: "Trigger Warning. Today I had another surgery to remove another mole — this time on my stomach. We're hoping it's just a precaution, but I'll be waiting 8–10 weeks for results. Please don't ignore any changes to your skin. "I never thought this would happen to me… until it did. Early detection saves lives — skin cancer is highly treatable when caught early. If something doesn't look or feel right, see a doctor. Protect your skin: Use high SPF, cover up, say no to sunbeds. Look after yourself and those around you." After sharing she would be waiting eight to ten weeks for the results, one of Danielle's followers asked if she had considered going private, due to results being processed in around 72 hours. "I've been using the NHS yes the results take a long time but they have been amazing," she replied.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Brandi Glanville BURNS her face with hair-removal cream in DIY attempt to fix facial disfigurement
burned her face as she attempted to fix her facial disfigurement as shocked fans begged her to not put chemical hair-removal cream on her face. The 52-year-old RHOBH alum took to her TikTok on Sunday to share a bizarre video of herself featuring burns on her face after using Nair. She captioned the video: 'Beauty hacks (this is a good one but do a test patch)I did 7 minutes and I'm on fire sooooioko don't to 7 minutes it also burned the loose skin off my arms & its 7 dollars [sunglasses emoji] mix up some aloe vera, cucumber and black tea put it in the freezer put it in the spray bottle and once it's cold enough spray all day cause I'm in some pain.' Concerned fans took to the comments section of the social media clip as one wrote: 'Chemical burn? [persevering face emoji] I would go to ER.' Another chimed in: 'Wait, did she nair on her face and it burned off her skin and looks like this, this cannot even be real right now. How is she just chilling being fine, I would've lost my f***ing mind looking like that. 'She's so chill about it that her face is burnt off. That's why I refuse to believe she put nair on her face! She probably got a procedure or something and being silly. Because I just I don't even know right now.!! I love Brandi but what!' Brandi Glanville burned her face as she attempted to fix her facial disfigurement as shocked fans begged her to not put chemical hair-removal cream on her face. This came just days after she made her priorities crystal clear while delivering a wild health update on her mysterious facial disfigurement on Tuesday. The former reality star said she couldn't wait to make out 'with a hot boy or girl' as she listed all she was looking forward to once she overcame her health ailment. Brandi made the revelation as she publicly thanked Dr. Michael Scoma, an infectious disease immunology expert who 'delivers proactive treatments to Long COVID and [Myalgic Encephalomyelitis] ME patients.' 'I am so thankful to my NYC angel @DrScomaME_CFS for actually wanting to help me get better. I'm finally getting answers!' Brandi gushed on X. 'Can't wait to live again (fix teeth, put on 10lbs, and make out with a hot boy or girl). I cannot wait to get out of this house and live!' Glanville continued: 'And then I fall in love again, but I won't let him know it. I won't lose that power, but then I will end up losing the power and will date for three years and it will be over.' The Remedy singer previously revealed she hadn't had sex since October 2023 during the December 29th episode of her podcast, Brandi Glanville Unfiltered. In April, Brandi admitted to Us Weekly that she missed having sex with men: 'I miss socializing with my girlfriends and then having sex with men.' 'I'm a Scorpio. I love sex. I was having a lot of it and now I haven't had any of it and I'm like, "Have I forgotten how to kiss?" But, like, I've lost myself. I feel more insecure than I ever have in my life,' she said. Glanville has seen dozens of doctors and claimed steroids, antibiotics, and antiviral medication have all failed to help her. The Traitors contestant has spent over $113K trying to remove the hard lumps on her cheekbone, jaw, and neck which she blames on the COVID-19 vaccine and a mysterious facial parasite caught in Morocco. Brandi's The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip co-star Vicki Gunvalson claims to have contracted the same exact condition, which she treats with taking Ivermectin 'twice a month.' 'We all got sick when we went to Morocco,' the 63-year-old RHOC alum recalled on SiriusXM Tuesday. 'My stomach's bloated, I don't feel good. I feel tired. Where I'm at now is like, "Why do I always feel sluggish?" I don't go poop. Like, it's very hard for me. It might be once a week, if that.' Vicki added: 'Brandi is in so much pain. She's got a very large moves. It goes into her mouth. It's bad.' Glanville - who commands $125 on Cameo - keeps busy selling used clothing and accessories through her 'Reality Shop' on eBay. The former model is also every bit the influencer with paid partnerships for companies like Cruise of Deception, Wander, Usual Wines, and Chara Health. Earlier this month, The Valley star Scheana Shay confessed in her memoir My Good Side that she had a secret 'physical relationship' with Brandi's husband Eddie Cibrian 'at the end of 2006, which was a weekly booty call.' Brandi rejoiced on X: 'I'm finally getting answers! Can't wait to live again (fix teeth, put on 10lbs, and make out with a hot boy or girl). I cannot wait to get out of this house and live!' It wasn't until two years later that the 52-year-old actor's on-set affair with his Northern Lights leading lady LeAnn Rimes destroyed his eight-year marriage with Glanville. The California blonde and Eddie remain amicable for the sake of their two adult sons - Mason, 22; and Jake, 18. On March 7, Cibrian revealed he got a plum new part by sharing tuxedo-clad snaps of himself with eight-time Oscar nominee Glenn Close on the LA set of the upcoming Hulu legal drama, All's Fair. Creator Ryan Murphy's $69.7M-budget sexy adult procedural about an all-female law firm also features Kim Kardashian, Sarah Paulson, Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash, Teyana Taylor, Brooke Shields, Matthew Noszka, and Ed O'Neill.
