Teddi Mellencamp Detailed Her “Very Dark Moments” Months Before Learning Her Cancer Had Spread 

Teddi Mellencamp opened up about the tribulations of living with cancer prior to her latest health update. 

Before the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star was diagnosed with more tumors in her brain and lungs—just one month after undergoing emergency surgery on a previously-found brain tumor—she had detailed the “mental toll” of her ongoing cancer battle. 

“You have very dark moments where you think, ‘What if I don't make it? What does that mean for my children? What does that mean for my business?’” Teddi—who shares Slate, 12, Cruz, 10, and Dove, 5, with ex Edwin Arroyave—explained in an October interview with E! News. “You go through all those emotions. And what I learned is being able to talk with people about it and tell them what you need.” 

And while at the time, Teddi—who first shared her melanoma diagnosis in 2022—had not yet received her metastasized tumor results, she recalled feeling constantly defeated from the start of her cancer journey.

“I remember thinking, ‘Okay, well, after this surgery, it means I'll be done,’” Teddi recalled. “And then every time I would go back, there was something more, there was something more severe, there was another.”

Indeed, the 43-year-old has shared it has caused her to grapple with her need for control. 

“For somebody like me, who likes control, when things are so out of your control, and you can't plan for it, and sometimes you just have to accept what's happening and try to find peace in that and not control it,” she explained, “but know that you can control being an advocate for your health. So I would say that's very challenging.”

But after sharing her diagnoses of several additional tumors March 6, Teddi expressed a hopeful outlook on the prognosis. 

“I am feeling positive,” Teddi shared in an Instagram post, going on to even share a quip about Angelina Jolie. “I will win this battle, that I got this wig (I like the short hair, just not the bald spots), and that I can remember all of Angelina’s kids’ names.”

She concluded with a reference to the melanoma battle Bravo’s Andy Cohen fought in 2016, adding, “Now, as @bravoandy would say: with all due… f*** off, cancer!”

Keep reading for more stars who have shared insight into their cancer journeys…

The All My Children alum announced in January 2025 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his third cancer diagnosis throughout his life.

Despite the devastating news, he announced (for the third time) in February 2025 he was cancer-free following successful surgery and treatments.

“Remember, you’re not defined by any of your challenges," he wrote in his February 2025 Instagram update. "You’re grander than it all. I’m not my fear, my anxiousness or my scars but I embrace it all because the only way to transform it is to own it.”

The former Golden Bachelor star shared in Dec. 2024 that he had been diagnosed with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, a bone cancer.

"Unfortunately, there's no cure for it,” Gerry noted to People at the time. “So that weighs heavily in every decision I make. It was like 10 tons of concrete were just dropped on me. And I was a bit in denial for a while, I didn't want to admit to it.”

The actor, known for roles in The Boys and Supernatural, shared on Feb. 3, 2023, that he had battled prostate cancer for years and was cancer free.

"I had to have a lil bit o'cancer removed from my body and lymph nodes biopsied," the Vanderpump Rules star revealed to fans at the close of 2018. "(In the clear now!)"

The Desperate Housewives star revealed to fans in September 2018 that she survived anal cancer. "After posting a picture of myself here and uttering the words #cancer and #hairloss, I feel liberated, deliriously free and completely me," she shared on Instagram. 

The two-time Oscar winner underwent successful treatment for cancer, and his rep confirmed to E! News that doctors deemed Hoffman "surgically cured."

The X-Men star was treated for his third basal cell carcinoma back in 2014, and after his third treatment, Jackman's rep told E! News that he's "all good" now.

In April 2023, Hugh had two biopsies for additional basal cell carcinoma. At the time, he told fans, "If I can just take this opportunity to remind you summer is coming for those of us in the northern hemisphere, please wear sunscreen."

The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star celebrated one year of being cancer-free in January. The mother of two was diagnosed with endometrial cancer back in 2013 and underwent a radical hysterectomy.

Then in 2017, Camille had surgery to remove Squamous Cell Carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. 

The Avengers: Age of Ultron actress battled ovarian cancer at the age of 25 and overcome odds when she welcomed two children with husband Taran Killam.

TV host reveals he underwent surgery for prostate cancer in July 2013 and has since been given a clean bill of health.

The Dancing with the Stars cohost underwent successful surgery for thyroid cancer. The mother of four tweeted, "Thx for all the twitter love. I'm [home] recovering & resting."

"MY DR CALLED ME ON A SAT. MORNING TO TELL ME I AM CANCER FREE!!!!! #wootothemotherf--kinhoo," the actress tweeted after receiving the good news.

The Up All Night star was declared "100-percent clear" of breast cancer after treatment and a double mastectomy.

The Dexter star used a hiatus from his hit series to slay Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Australian actress revealed in October 2011 that she had a cancerous mole removed from her calf after her hubby encouraged her to get the suspicious-looking mark checked out.

The Scot is trainspotting just fine these days after having a cancerous mole removed from beneath his right eye.

The singer beat breast cancer in 2004 with a "minimally invasive" lumpectomy and radiation therapy.

The Oscar winner declared in early 2011 that his tumor was gone and he had throat cancer "beat."

The Emmy winner whacked breast cancer in 2004.

Surely the CNN veteran wears his SPF when he's braving the elements now after having a cancerous growth removed from under his left eye in 2008.

The Australian pop star underwent successful surgery for breast cancer in 2005.

The 7th Heaven star was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease when he was only 28. He's 50 now and looking good!

The ER fave had to abandon her role in Parenthood to fight breast cancer in 2009—but her treatment was a success and she was back on the red carpet in no time.

The America's Got Talent judge was diagnosed with colon cancer while shooting The Osbournes in 2002 and used the opportunity to stress the importance of regular screenings while attacking the #@%! with chemotherapy. She was declared cancer-free the following year.

The Oscar winner took prostate cancer down, down to Chinatown, in 2003, and has been in about 400 movies since then.

The Good Morning America cohost proudly flaunted her smooth scalp while undergoing chemotherapy to treat breast cancer in 2007.

The champion cyclist battled back from stage-four testicular cancer before winning seven straight Tour de France titles.

The Grammy and Oscar winner became an inspiring activist after a lumpectomy and chemotherapy cleared her of breast cancer in 2005.

The former Saturday Night Live standout mined her breast cancer battle for comedic material that turned into God Said Ha!, her successful one-woman show that eventually went to Broadway.

The Sex and the City star was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, and after surgery and radiation treatments, she was given the clear.

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