Teddi Mellencamp, the 43-year-old former star of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, has shared the news that she is undergoing emergency surgery after doctors discovered "multiple tumors" in her brain.
In a heartfelt statement posted on Instagram, Mellencamp explained, “For the last several weeks I’ve been dealing with severe and debilitating headaches.” She went on to describe how the pain became unbearable, leading to hospitalization. “Yesterday the pain was unbearable and required hospitalization. After a CT scan and MRI, doctors found multiple tumors on my brain, which they believe have been growing for at least 6 months,” she revealed.
Mellencamp is scheduled for surgery to remove two of the tumors on Wednesday. “The remaining smaller tumors will be dealt with via radiation at a later date,” she added. In her post, she expressed her gratitude for the immense support from her loved ones. "I feel blessed for the support I’m receiving from my children, family, friends, doctors, nurses, and surgeons who are all working tirelessly to help me regain my health."
She also thanked her followers for their support, saying, “Thank you to everybody who has reached out, and to everyone who has supported me along this journey❤️.”
The reality star shared a video on Instagram Stories before her surgery, showing a friend using an electric razor on her head. With her usual upbeat spirit, she sang, "My best look,” adding a cheerful vibe to her situation.
Before the announcement, Mellencamp shared a selfie from her hospital bed with sensors on her head, counting down the minutes until her children arrived. “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,” she captioned the photo.
Mellencamp received an outpouring of support from fans and fellow celebrities alike. Scheana Shay from Vanderpump Rules sent her well wishes, commenting, “Sending you so many prayers and all the love!!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻.” Lala Kent also added, “You’re in our prayers. May God bless you 🤍,” while Kenya Moore from Real Housewives of Atlanta shared her support with “Praying for you 🙏🏾.”
Mellencamp has been facing ongoing health challenges since her stage 2 melanoma diagnosis in October 2022. She has undergone a minimum of 16 surgeries to remove melanomas over the past two and a half years. In December, she celebrated a milestone when her doctors found "nothing abnormal" during a routine skin check for the first time. “I’m grateful for my doctors, nurses, family, friends, and all of you for your continual support. As long as you’re here, I have a reason to keep advocating for myself and for others,” she wrote in an emotional post.
Multiple brain tumors refer to the presence of more than one tumor in the brain, which can arise from primary tumors (originating in the brain) or secondary tumors (metastatic tumors from other parts of the body). The causes, symptoms, and treatment plans vary depending on the type, size, and location of the tumors.
Common symptoms of brain tumors can vary depending on the location of the tumors, but they generally include:
For multiple tumors, symptoms may become more pronounced or complex because the tumors can affect different parts of the brain, leading to a wider range of neurological symptoms.
The prognosis for individuals with multiple brain tumors depends on several factors:
Having multiple brain tumors generally increases the complexity of diagnosis and treatment. Multidisciplinary care is often necessary, involving neurosurgeons, oncologists, radiologists, and support specialists to provide comprehensive management.
Early detection, timely intervention, and personalized treatment plans are essential to improving the outcomes for patients diagnosed with multiple brain tumors.
