Teddi Mellencamp is feeling hopeful and honest as she overcomes her ongoing battle with cancer.
In an exclusive chat with Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea,” the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum shared a positive update on her physical health, but also opened up about the mental strain that’s been lingering behind the scenes, especially after her father, John Mellencamp, recently publicly said he was “struggling.”
“Physically, I think I’m in good shape,” says Teddy, 44. “I think what he meant by ‘suffering’ was something we don’t talk about a lot when it comes to cancer: how you feel after all the surgeries and all the tests…what your mental state is like. And that’s suffering.”
Speaking candidly about her melanoma diagnosis and subsequent spread, the reality star revealed that while her body was responding well, her mental recovery was far more complicated.
“I’ve been in therapy,” she says. “I’ve been working hard to find peace, to find happiness, to find joy, to find myself again.”
Teddy came forward in October 2022 with a diagnosis of stage 2 melanoma. She underwent more than a dozen surgeries to deal with the disease, including an emergency surgery in 2025 to remove several tumors in her brain.
“Going into surgery, I didn’t even know what was going on,” she recalls. “I went to the hospital thinking I had a headache. Tamra (Judge) and I were working on the Super Bowl and the next day I went to the hospital thinking it was a migraine. And that’s when they found tumors in my brain and lungs.”
“So it wasn’t something I had thought about for months,” she added. “It’s just, ‘Oh, okay, I’m having surgery the next day.'”
Last October, Teddy said his cancer, which had spread to his lungs, was gone. But she said it will be a while, perhaps years, before doctors can officially declare her in remission.
Now, the co-host of the podcast Two Ts in a Pod says she’s physically stronger than ever, emotionally more self-aware and focused on moving forward. Her famous father’s comments were alarming to fans, but they were ultimately rooted in concern.
“He hates to see me go through anything,” she previously explained, noting that their family has always been open about the difficult parts of their lives.
When we caught up with Teddi, she had just finished starring on Fox’s “The Masked Singer,” and she said the challenge helped her find joy amidst a heavy chapter.
Between treatment sessions, health updates, and new creative ventures, Teddy remains committed to being transparent about not only surviving cancer, but what comes after.
“People talk about being strong,” she said. “But sometimes there’s strength in admitting that you’re still figuring it out.”
“The Masked Singer” airs every Wednesday at 8pm ET on FOX.
