"I was taking medication, but nothing helped": Real Housewives star Teddi Mellencamp reveals details about her battle against brain tumors

Teddi Mellencamp has faced plenty of drama during her time on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, but nothing compares to the fight she’s in now. The 43-year-old reality star, podcast host, and fitness entrepreneur recently revealed she’s battling stage 4 melanoma. It’s a diagnosis that has shaken her world.

“I’m fighting for my life,”

Mellencamp told Us Weekly.

“But also for my family’s life and all the people I love.”

The journey has been tough. Since 2022, she has dealt with recurring melanoma, but things took a devastating turn when doctors found multiple tumors in her brain and lungs. Just when she was processing the news, another blow came—four more brain tumors were discovered in late March. Yet, even amid fear and uncertainty, Mellencamp remains determined to push forward, sharing her story with honesty, humor, and resilience.

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The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star first started to get migraines

Mellencamp’s battle began with seemingly ordinary migraines.

“I was taking medication, but nothing helped, then one day, I couldn’t see,” she recalled.

Her then-estranged husband, Edwin Arroyave, rushed her to an emergency room in Tarzana, where scans revealed multiple brain tumors.

“I wanted answers immediately,” she said.

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“They told me I needed to get to Cedars-Sinai, and I was like, ‘Can we go tonight?’”

She later learned she had six tumors in her brain and two in her lungs. They had metastasized from melanoma, a skin cancer she had been battling on and off for years. The Real Housewives alum was in shock.

“I had no idea they had been there for so long,” she said.

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A grueling treatment plan

Following her diagnosis, Mellencamp underwent brain surgery to remove four tumors. Thanks to her longtime friend and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills co-star, Kyle Richards, she was able to secure top-notch medical care quickly.

“Kyle saved the day,” Mellencamp said.

Her treatment didn’t end there. She began radiation and immunotherapy to target the remaining tumors.

“I thought it would be like recovering from plastic surgery,” she joked.

“But it’s been way tougher. My head constantly aches, but my doctor says that’s actually a good thing—it means the treatment is working.”

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Balancing motherhood and health struggles

Mellencamp is a devoted mom to three kids—Slate, 12, Cruz, 10, and Dove, 5. Facing a life-threatening illness while raising young children has been heartbreaking.

Her catchphrase on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills used to be:

“Moms always come back.”

But now, she hesitates to say it.

“I haven’t told my kids that since my diagnosis, I don’t want to lie to them,” she admitted.

She’s also making sure her children have emotional support.

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A surprise reconciliation with her estranged husband

Before her diagnosis, Mellencamp and Arroyave had announced their separation after 13 years of marriage. But everything changed when she got sick.

“He immediately stepped up, it wasn’t the time to argue over emails,” she said.

Now, they’re living under the same roof again.

“It’s like all the good parts of our marriage without the problems,” she shared.

“We laugh a lot. We even call this phase the ‘Divorce Chronicles.’”

While they haven’t officially gotten back together, Mellencamp is grateful for his support.

“If this happened for a reason, maybe it was to remind us of what really matters,” she said.

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Support from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast

Mellencamp has received an outpouring of love from friends, family, and fans. Richards has been by her side since day one, helping her navigate the medical system and checking in constantly.

Other The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills stars have also reached out.

“Erika [Jayne] has been amazing,” she said.

“Even Dorit [Kemsley], who I hadn’t spoken to in a while, sent a really sweet message.”

Some, however, have remained silent.

“Garcelle [Beauvais] hasn’t reached out, that one surprised me,” she noted.

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Through it all, Mellencamp is proving she’s more than just a reality star. She is fighting with everything she’s gotm and no matter what happens, she’s making sure her story is told on her terms.