Teddi Mellencamp Reiterates 'Trust Your Instincts' On Brain Surgery Anniversary

It has been one year since Teddi Mellencamp underwent surgery to remove tumors from her brain!

The "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" alum reflected on her cancer journey on the first anniversary of her brain surgery in an emotional post, reflecting on how far she has come.

Teddi Mellencamp's cancer journey began in 2022 when she was diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma, before her case escalated and she needed surgery.

Mellencamp poured her heart out to fans on Instagram, dropping a throwback picture of herself at the hospital. "A year ago today, I went into the ER thinking I had migraines and within 24 hours was having surgery on the plum-sized stage 4 tumors on my brain," she began.

"I have a lot of anxiety surrounding today but also a lot of gratitude," Mellencamp continued, noting she was grateful to the doctors and nurses who cared for her. Her thanks extended to family and friends for their support, as well as fans for their love.

Mellencamp concluded her post with an important message for her followers, writing, "Trust your instincts. Get checked [red heart emoji]." Her post received over three hundred comments from fans and friends celebrating her incredible journey.

Mellencamp's longtime pal, Kyle Richards, kicked off the positive reactions with a heartwarming message. She noted that she couldn't believe it has been a year since Mellencamp went under the knife to remove the tumors in her brain, adding:

"You're so strong, Ted. Even the days you feel like you aren't. You're an inspiration to SO many. Love you!"

"You are so inspiring for millions of people. Thank you for sharing your experience, strength, and hope with us all," Captain Sandy Yawn from "Below Deck Mediterranean" wrote. The sweet comments continued, with a fan applauding Mellencamp for staying resilient throughout her health ordeal.

Days before marking the first anniversary of her brain surgery, Mellencamp reflected on her cancer journey in an emotional interview. She told PEOPLE that she had been at the Super Bowl with Tamra Judge when the "burning headaches" began.

Mellencamp noted that she didn't understand what was happening to her body, but she chose not to ignore the concerning signs. After the Super Bowl, she immediately went to the hospital, where doctors discovered that her stage 2 melanoma had metastasized to her brain and lungs.

The entertainer had to undergo surgery followed by ongoing immunotherapy. Although Mellencamp is still considered stage 4, she stressed that she feels more like her old self. "I'm just so grateful that I trusted my instinct and did go to the doctor that day," she gushed.

Elsewhere in the interview, Mellencamp confessed that there were days when she felt completely exhausted after an immunotherapy session. Nonetheless, she vowed to continue pushing herself to do the best she could.

The "Two Ts in a Pod" podcast host noted that this motto had motivated her to join Season 14 of "The Masked Singer." During the February 4 episode of the show, Mellencamp was revealed to be the Calla Lily. She shared more about her decision, saying, "I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone."

Mellencamp claimed that people were always focused on the physical struggles of those with stage 4 cancer. But for her, "a lot of it has been the mental struggle." On that note, joining the competition was the best way to overcome the limitations of her mind.

Mellencamp has been open about her struggles throughout her cancer journey. She shared her concerns with her podcast co-host, Tamara Judge, during a July 2025 episode of their show. The Blast reported that she confessed to being "in denial" about her situation.

According to Mellencamp, she felt she was in denial about where she was physically, noting it was harder to deal with when other people were not in denial. She explained that her family was urging her to have the difficult conversations, but she was not ready to face the grim possibilities.

"They want to talk about things like the future, or medically, exactly how I'm doing, and I don't want to talk about it," Mellencamp admitted. In a June 2025 episode of her podcast, she gave a positive health update, revealing that doctors had confirmed that her brain tumors were shrinking.

Happy cancerversary, Teddi Mellencamp!