'If you see a spot, get it checked': Teddi Mellencamp is finally cancer-free after 12 melanomas removed
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Teddi Mellencamp has finally defeated skin cancer after having 12 Melanomas removed from her body. In an interview, the 'RHOBH' star shared her learnings and advised everyone to get screened if they spot something on their body. "I'm just so grateful we caught it in time," she said.
The actress was having a regular gym session with her costar from the ‘Read Housewives of Beverly Hills’, Kyle Richards, when she was reminded once again about the "spots." Mellencamp shared, "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.'"
READ MORE
She then went to the hospital and was diagnosed with Stage 2 skin cancer. "I'm 99% sure this one spot is skin cancer," the doctor told Mellencamp right away. "Just cut it out," she told them. "I don't care if it doesn't look pretty — get rid of it."
The reality star also shared that in October, her dermatologist noticed more of those abnormal spots and referred her to an oncologist instead. Soon, Mellencamp learned that several of the spots came back as Melanoma Stage 2. "Apparently it's very rare to have multiple melanomas in one location,” she says.
"We're all susceptible—we're all out in the sun," says Dr Janice Mehnert, a melanoma expert from NYU Langone's Perlmutter Cancer Center, who did not treat Mellencamp. "Different populations are more at risk than others, but we should all be careful and practice sun safety and get screenings." Skin cancer is among the most common cancer in the United States, and as per skin cancer.org reports, one in 5 Americans is likely to develop skin cancer by the age of 70.
Mellencamp thinks childhood habits may have contributed to her disease. "I was outside all the time, I rode horses. I very rarely wore sunscreen. If anything, I was putting on baby oil and trying to compete for the best tan after spring break," the actress told People.
Mellencamp was also grateful for the support she received on social media, "The only thing that has ever worked for me — what hasn't led me deeper into anxiety, deeper into depression— is being vulnerable and sharing and reminding everybody we're not alone in whatever it is that we think we're going through. Because when you feel alone, then sometimes that can paralyze us from doing what we need to do to take care of ourselves."
The star has also been vocal about raising awareness of the disease. "If you see a spot, go get it checked," she adds.