Teddi Mellencamp Undergoes 'Biggest Surgery in Her Melanoma Journey': 'A Lot of Damn Pain but Worth It'

Vanessa Etienne
·3-min read

“It’s pretty painful but I am so grateful that they did such a great job,” said the ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ alum

<p>Teddi Mellencamp/Instagram</p> Teddi Mellencamp after surgery to remove her melanoma

Teddi Mellencamp/Instagram

Teddi Mellencamp after surgery to remove her melanoma

Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave is on the mend once again after undergoing another surgery for her melanoma.

On Tuesday, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum posted a series of videos on her Instagram Story documenting her visit to the hospital for a major surgery to remove her 13th melanoma after the immunotherapy cream treatment didn’t work in recent months.

The 42-year-old told her followers that all of the kind messages have “totally warmed my heart” as she shared a photo of the skin cancer on her back before going under anesthesia. She also gave fans an update after surgery, remaining hopeful that this would be her last.

“I’m out of surgery. Now I’m just waiting to be discharged to the nursing facility. It’s pretty painful but I am so grateful that they did such a great job,” she said from her hospital bed before letting out a big sigh. “Whew, that back skin is tight…struggle bus, but I’m hoping they got it all.”

Mellencamp later shared another clip as she was being transported to the nursing care facility, telling her followers that her recovery so far is “a lot of damn pain but worth it.”

<p>Teddi Mellencamp/Instagram</p> Teddi Mellencamp showing her melanoma before surgery

Teddi Mellencamp/Instagram

Teddi Mellencamp showing her melanoma before surgery

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Ahead of Mellencamp’s surgery, her husband Edwin Arroyave sent her a heartfelt message on Instagram, praising her strength alongside an intimate photo of the couple revealing Mellencamp’s scars on her back.

“As Teddi goes in for the biggest surgery in her melanoma journey today, I just wanted to share how her absolute strength through it all has been nothing short of incredible,” Arroyave wrote. “I know this battle is close to being won, and I cannot wait to see how she continues to impact every person around her. I love you, Mama.”

In the comments section, Mellencamp received tons of well wishes, including from some of her fellow stars.

“Praying for this journey will be behind her after today . Love you my strong friend ❤️🙏”  said Real Housewives of Orange County star Tamra Judge, who has also battled skin cancer.

“Praying for your family, for the Drs and for Teddi 🙏🏼,” former Miss USA Nia Sanchez wrote while Real Housewives of Atlanta star Drew Sidora commented, “Praying for my friend and you as well 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 I look forward to her complete healing, which is on the way🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽”

Mellencamp later reposted the photo on her Instagram Story adding, “I love you honey. Thank you for the love and support.”

<p>Teddi Mellencamp/Instagram</p> Teddi Mellencamp and husband Edwin Arroyave

Teddi Mellencamp/Instagram

Teddi Mellencamp and husband Edwin Arroyave

Related: Teddi Mellencamp Reveals She’s Having Surgery to Remove Another Melanoma: 'Caught This One Early'

The reality star’s surgery comes a week after she posted a tearful video on her Instagram Story explaining that the immunotherapy treatment didn’t work for the melanoma on her back.

“I just had a big ol’ cry,” she said while letting out a big sigh. “I just got the call from my doctor that the immunotherapy did not work, it was not successful.”

“So I have two different options,” Mellencamp explained. “I can either do a big skin graft of my stomach or my arm but it’s a very long recovery or I can go in and get another wide excision surgery on December 26. And they’ll have a plastic surgeon come in too because it’s such a big area and then just keep getting my checks every three months.”

“So that’s where we are. Get your skin checked folks,” she added.

On Sept. 13, Mellencamp announced on Instagram that she'd been diagnosed with her thirteenth melanoma in the past year.

Since then, Mellencamp — who was first diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma in October 2022 — has been transparent about her health battle and treatment plan in hopes of encouraging others to stay vigilant with skin check ups.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest stories

  • Conservatives Routed in Worst Election Result for 200 Years

    LONDON—The Conservatives, the world’s winningest political party, were booted out of power in dramatic style on Thursday after 14 years of chaotic and divisive rule.The Labour Party had secured a landslide victory, ending an era of Conservative rule over Britain that stretches back to 2010; the year that the iPad and Instagram were launched and Lady Gaga wore that meat dress to the MTV music awards.In that time, the Conservatives have cycled through five leaders, each of them dragging the party

  • E-hailing driver faces charges over assault on female passenger caught on video, say police

    KUALA LUMPUR, July 5 — Brickfields district police chief ACP Ku Mashariman Ku Mahmood today said that an e-hailing drive...

  • When Ms ‘Malaysia’ visits Malaysia: American tourist gets warm welcome from locals awed by unique name (VIDEO)

    KUALA LUMPUR, July 5 — An American tourist decided to visit Malaysia for a special reason: Malaysia also happens to be h...

  • Joyce Chen confirms she has become a mother

    The TVB actress shares photos of her and her daughter, not revealing partner's identity

  • ‘I’ve lost my job and my house, but my wife and I are worth £650m – how can we pay less tax?’

    Rishi Sunak, 44, finds himself in a bind. After a highly successful career in the City of London, followed by a brief but eventful spell in politics, he has suffered a serious demotion and been evicted from his home.

  • 74-year-old woman dies after being shoved in front of San Francisco train

    Corazon Dandan died after being pushed into an oncoming BART train at San Francisco’s Powell Street Station at around 11 p.m on Monday night. The suspect, 49-year-old Trevor Belmont, also known as Hoak Taing, was arrested at the scene and booked into the San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of homicide and elder abuse. Dandan, who was Filipino American, was a dedicated telephone operator at the Westin St. Francis and other hotels.

  • Opinion: What Britain’s first Asian prime minister meant to my family

    The defeat of the Conservative Party in the UK election ends Rishi Sunak’s two-year premiership. Does it also sour the story of Britain’s first Asian prime minister, asks Sunder Katwala.

  • Beijing is laughing at the West’s weakness

    Russian aggression in Ukraine poses a threat to world peace and stability. China provides material support for Russia’s actions. All this is entirely clear. In Beijing, immediately after a meeting with Xi Jinping in April this year, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that “Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China’s support”. This included selling huge quantities of machine tools and micro-electronics that would be used in the Russian defence industry.

  • The Head of NASA Is Being Awfully Catty About China's Amazing New Moon Samples

    China recently became the first country to ever return samples taken from the far side of the Moon, a historic mission that could have profound implications on our understanding of its evolution and ability to host human life. But thanks to a law called the Wolf Amendment, which was enacted by the US government in […]

  • PKR-linked think-tank says Sungai Bakap race too close to call

    KUALA LUMPUR, July 5 — Pakatan Harapan’s Joohari Ariffin could win the Sungai Bakap by-election in Penang tomorrow if hi...

  • How Obama mentored the new UK prime minister to help him tell his story

    The leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, has been mentored by Barack Obama. The relationship is likely to continue if Starmer wins the UK election.

  • Immigration nabs 75 in Klang Valley prostitution crackdown

    KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 — The Immigration Department conducted a crackdown on a foreign prostitution syndicate in the Klang...

  • Portugal v France: a galactic battle lost in the black hole of one man’s ego

    This Euro 2024 clash could have been an all-time great quarter-final, and instead a part of it was stolen

  • Seven moments over 14 years that destroyed the Conservative government

    The Tories have lost the 2024 general election with the worst results in the party's history. Here are the key moments that brought them down.

  • Canadian Police Seek Suspects in Pants-on-Fire Arson

    One of two suspects in an arson in Richmond, British Columbia, set himself on fire and “despite efforts of both the suspects, [his] pants continued to burn,” according to Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).The RCMP released footage of the incident, which they said occurred in the early hours of April 24.“At approximately 4:30 am Richmond RCMP attended for an alarm at a business located in the 2600 block of Simpson Road,” police said.“Frontline officers located a broken window and small fire directly in front of it. Evidence was also located which indicated the fire had been intentionally set.“A subsequent review of video surveillance from the area determined that two unidentified men wearing masks had approached the business on foot prior to allegedly smashing the window and then lighting an object on fire. While lighting it, one of the suspect

  • Zelensky U-turns as he invites Russia to attend peace summit without giving up land

    Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Russia to the next peace summit despite previously saying it could only join if it relinquished land in Ukraine.

  • Police: Man sodomised by foreigner he met in PJ condo gym

    PETALING JAYA, July 6 — A local man has alleged he was sodomised against his will by a foreigner he met at the gym of th...

  • Lebanon's Hezbollah rains 200 rockets on Israel as Gaza war rages

    Lebanon's Hezbollah launched more than 200 rockets and drones at Israeli army positions on Thursday, escalating tensions between the two adversaries amid the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.After months of deadlocked Gaza ceasefire efforts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he agreed to send a delegation for talks aimed at securing the release of hostages seized in Hamas's October 7 attack that sparked the war.The announcement, which came a day after Hamas said it had "ideas" on halting the nearly nine-month conflict, followed a phone call between Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden."The leaders discussed the recent response received from Hamas" and "the President welcomed the Prime Minister's decision&nbsp;to authorise his negotiators to engage with US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators in an effort to close out the deal," the White House said.Israel launched a military offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip on October 7, in response to an unprecedented attack by the Palestinian Islamist militant group on its territory.The next day Hezbollah, in support of its ally Hamas, opened a front on Israel's northern border with Lebanon, and the two sides have since exchanged near-daily cross-border fire.Hezbollah said it fired more than 200 rockets and "explosive drones" at army positions in northern Israel and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights in retaliation for an Israeli strike that killed one of the Iran-backed group's commanders.Air raid sirens blared across northern Israel in the morning, and an AFP correspondent witnessed rockets crossing the frontier that were mostly intercepted by Israeli air defences but sparked wildfires.A military source said later a soldier was killed by a rocket fired into northern Israel.- Fighting in Gaza City -The Gaza war broke out after Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,195 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.The militants also seized 251 hostages, 116 of whom remain in Gaza including 42 the army says are dead.In response, Netanyahu vowed to "crush" Hamas and Israel's military launched an offensive that has killed at least 38,011 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.Gaza's civil defence agency said seven people were killed Thursday in Israeli strikes, including five in a school in Gaza City, in the north of the besieged territory.Fighting raged in the city's Shujaiya neighbourhood and in Rafah, on the southern border with Egypt, where an Israeli evacuation order raised fears of a major new offensive.Since the order was issued on Monday, tens of thousands of Palestinians have fled eastern areas of Rafah and nearby Khan Yunis.The United Nations says 1.9 million people are thought to be displaced in Gaza, and that around nine in every 10 people in the territory have been uprooted at least once since the war broke out."Behind these numbers, there are people... that have fears and grievances. And they had probably dreams and hopes; the less and less, I fear today, unfortunately," said Andrea De Domenico, head of the UN humanitarian office in the Palestinian territories."People who in the last nine months have been moved around like pawns in a board game."- Evacuation order -The United Nations says up to 250,000 people were affected by Israel's order to evacuate 117 square kilometres (45 square miles) -- equivalent to one-third of Gaza's territory.The Israel-Hezbollah border clashes have killed at least 496 people in Lebanon, most of them fighters but also including 95 civilians, according to an AFP tally.Israeli authorities say at least 16 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed on their side of the UN-patrolled border.The Gaza war at the heart of the violence has meanwhile raged on, with gun battles, air strikes and shelling rocking Gaza City&nbsp;for an eight straight day.Israeli troops "destroyed tunnel routes in the area and eliminated dozens of terrorists in close-quarters combat with tank fire, and in aerial strikes," the military said.- 'Maelstrom of human misery' -Israel has faced an international outcry over the soaring civilian death toll, punishing siege and mass destruction in Gaza.The UN humanitarian coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, this week called for an end to the "maelstrom of human misery".Netanyahu has insisted Israel will destroy Hamas and bring home the remaining hostages.Biden, under growing domestic pressure over Washington's support for Israel, in late May outlined a roadmap for a six-week truce and exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.There has been little progress since, but Hamas said Wednesday it was communicating with officials in Qatar and Egypt as well as Turkey with an eye to ending the conflict.Hamas said its Qatar-based political chief Ismail Haniyeh had "made contact with the mediator brothers in Qatar and Egypt about the ideas that the movement is discussing with them with the aim of reaching an agreement".Netanyahu's office said Wednesday that "Israel is evaluating the (Hamas) remarks and will convey its reply to the mediators".The main stumbling block so far has been Hamas's demand for a permanent end to the fighting, which Netanyahu and his far-right coalition partners strongly reject.burs-dv/kir

  • Michelle Wai's fiance popped the question on her birthday

    The actress shares details of the proposal a week after announcing engagement

  • China anchors 'monster ship' in South China Sea, Philippine coast guard says

    The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Saturday that China's largest coastguard vessel has anchored in Manila's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, and is meant to intimidate its smaller Asian neighbour. The China coastguard's 165-meter 'monster ship' entered Manila's 200-nautical mile EEZ on July 2, spokesperson for the PCG Jay Tarriela told a news forum. The PCG warned the Chinese vessel it was in the Philippine's EEZ and asked about their intentions, he said.