Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave has provided an update on her battle with melanoma, sharing with her Instagram followers that she has been experiencing some discomfort. "I have to listen to my body, and something isn’t feeling right," she explained.
On her way to a doctor’s appointment, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum revealed, “I’ve felt a little something in my neck and back, which is causing a lot of anxiety because these sensations are new to me.”
Encouraging her followers to “trust your instincts,” Arroyave, 43, shared that she had “two more spots removed today. This is why follow-up appointments are just as crucial as the initial checkup.”
The new spots were also on her back, which already bears a large scar from a previous melanoma removal surgery. Arroyave, mother to Dove (4), Cruz (9), and Slate (11) with husband Edwin, was diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma in 2022 and has since had 15 cancerous growths removed.
According to the Mayo Clinic, melanoma is a type of skin cancer that “can be treated successfully if found early,” with treatment usually involving surgery to remove the melanoma.
Despite her ongoing health challenges, Arroyave used this update to remind her followers about the importance of proactive health measures. “This is just a reminder to all of you: go get your skin checked,” she urged. “I was talking to someone the other day who said, ‘Oh yeah, I tan easily, so I’m not prone to it.’”
However, the Skin Cancer Foundation clarifies that “there is no such thing as a safe or healthy tan. Tanning increases your risk of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.”
“I know that sometimes going to get things checked or booking appointments can cause uneasiness, but it is so worth it,” Arroyave emphasized. “I wish I hadn’t delayed my initial skin checks; maybe I would be in a different place today.”
She continued, “Book your mammogram, book your OB-GYN appointments, book your skin checks. The list goes on. Message me if you need help staying accountable.”
Arroyave concluded with an important reminder: “You all can do this. Whatever stress booking these appointments may cause, the alternative, I assure you, is worse.”
The Quran - Chapter Al-Hashr: 23
He is Allah—there is no god except Him: the King, the Most Holy, the All-Perfect, the Source of Serenity, the Watcher ˹of all˺, the Almighty, the Supreme in Might, the Majestic. Glorified is Allah far above what they associate with Him ˹in worship˺!
