Teddi Mellencamp brain tumor shock as doctors rush ex Real Housewives star into emergency surgery

2 months ago 27

Teddi Mellencamp has revealed 'multiple tumors' were found on her brain - and she will now be undergoing surgery today.

In a statement posted to her Instagram, Mellencamp revealed the tumors were discovered following 'several weeks' of 'severe and debilitating headaches.'

Mellencamp will be having two tumors removed today, with the remaining 'smaller tumors' to be 'dealt with via radiation at a later date.'

The devastating news comes amid Teddi's battle with skin cancer, which began in 2022.

While it's unclear what type of tumor has been discovered, skin cancer can spread to the brain and cause brain tumors, known as brain metastasis.

'For the last several weeks I've been dealing with severe and debilitating headaches. Yesterday the pain was unbearable and required hospitalization,' Teddi, who is the daughter of American singer John Mellencamp, said in her statement.

Teddi Mellencamp has revealed she will be undergoing surgery today after 'multiple' tumors were found on her brown

Teddi got her hair shaved off by a friend

'After a CT scan and MRI, doctors found multiple tumors on my brain, which they believed have been growing for at least 6 months.

'Two of the tumors will be surgically removed today - the remaining smaller tumors will be dealt with via radiation at a later date.

'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.

'Thank you everybody who has reached out, and to everyone who has supported me along this journey.'

Mellencamp appeared to be preparing to undergo surgery in content posted to her Instagram Stories, which began with a photo of herself wearing a hospital robe and laying in bed with various devices placed upon her forehead.

'Counting down the minutes until my babies get here,' she wrote in the photo. 'As my dad said this am, god only gives hard stuff to those of us who can handle it.

'It's a hard day but I have faith and amazing surgeons and know everything will be ok.'

In a subsequent video, Teddi's hair was shaved off by a friend.

As her pal clipped off her long hair, Teddi tried to remain positive amid the scary circumstances.

'I'm going to have this look on my bucket list!' Teddi said cheerfully. 'My best look!'

Teddi's surgery comes two years after she was diagnosed with stage two melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer and kills nearly 10,000 people per year

Teddi's surgery comes two years after she was diagnosed with stage two melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer and kills nearly 10,000 people per year.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in men and the sixth most common in women.

The Certified Wellness Coach estimated that since her initial diagnosis, she has had about 20 surgeries to combat the cancer.

Her biggest surgery was a 'wide excision for melanoma and soft tissue defect reconstruction with adjacent tissue rearrangement,' according to E! News, which she underwent back in December 2023.

This is the surgery that left her with the large, zig-zag scar across her back and shoulder.

In December, Mellencamp was happy to report that she would not be undergoing another biopsy following two years of skin checks.

2024 was a particularly difficult year for Teddi, with the star splitting from husband Edwin Arroyave following more than 10 years of marriage

'I just got done having a little cry, but it's a good one,' she said.

'It's the first time, and over two years, I've gone in for my three-month check and not had to have a biopsy because I have another cancer spot.'

'Oh my gosh, such a good feeling,' she added.

2024 was a particularly difficult year for Teddi, with the star splitting from husband Edwin Arroyave following more than 10 years of marriage.

She recently broke her silence about the reason her marriage ended.

Opening up on The Skinny Confidential podcast, the 43-year-old implied that it was infidelity that put their relationship on a rough track - long before she allegedly strayed with her married horse trainer, Simon Schroeder.

'Me and Edwin had some of the most amazing years and the most amazing times, and when we met it was hot and it was all the things, and then there would be somebody else,' she confessed.

And I'd be like, "It's okay, I'm gonna work through it, I'm gonna make him love me more!" Then you have kids and things happen,' she continued.

'Probably at the point in time when Edwin was ready to start working on it and really change, I probably stopped.'

She added, 'But I never told him I was checked out. I think that's the problem.'

Teddi admitted that Edwin had started working on himself to save their marriage, but at that point the damage had been done.

'I think I had resentment or animosity or fear of ever being open again, so then I just closed off,' she said.

WHAT IS MELANOMA AND HOW CAN YOU PREVENT IT?

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. It happens after the DNA in skin cells is damaged (typically due to harmful UV rays) and then not repaired so it triggers mutations that can form malignant tumors.

The estimated number of diagnosis for skin cancer in Australia in 2018 is 14,320 which grew from the previous year were there were 13,941 cases and 1,839 deaths.

Approximately two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the time they are 70.

Causes

Sun exposure: UV and UVB rays from the sun and tanning beds are harmful to the skin
Moles: The more moles you have, the greater the risk for getting melanoma
Skin type: Fairer skin has a higher risk for getting melanoma
Hair color: Red heads are more at risk than others
Personal history: If you've had melanoma once, then you are more likely to get it again
Family history: If previous relatives have been diagnosed, then that increases your risk

Treatment

Removal of the melanoma:

This can be done by removing the entire section of the tumor or by the surgeon removing the skin layer by layer. When a surgeon removes it layer by layer, this helps them figure out exactly where the cancer stops so they don't have to remove more skin than is necessary.