:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(745x164:747x166)/Teddi-Mellencamp-melanoma-091323-tout-085d6bd77a784b3db62c5c3df774a152.jpg)
Teddi Mellencamp/Instagram
Teddi Mellencamp revealed that another melanoma was discovered on her back.
On Wednesday, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star shared the news on Instagram alongside a teary-eyed selfie and an image of the melanoma. The 42-year-old said she was debating sharing the news publicly, but remembered that in the past, it served as a reminder to others to get checked for skin cancer.
“I found out late yesterday afternoon that the most recent spot biopsied is another melanoma. I can’t even remember if this is the 12th or 13th one,” she began. “At this point, I am starting to black-out these memories like a portion of my childhood. I slept maybe 2 hours last night because my mind was racing.”
“I am so grateful for my 3-month checkup because we caught this one early. This means another surgery next week and additional biopsies,” she explained. “As I lay here with tears in my eyes and worry, I know my kids will be up soon. I have a podcast at 10. Life goes on. I am also reminded of my faith and the reminder I keep telling myself, ‘We can do hard things.’ We have so many beautiful things to look forward to.”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(768x280:770x282)/Teddi-Mellencamp-melanoma-091323-1-2cfc50e79e6246d48c514041f3d24f9b.jpg)
Teddi Mellencamp/Instagram
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 juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Mellencamp then encouraged her followers to make a list of things they’re grateful about and excited for if they’re “feeling lost or scared.” She admitted that she’s posting about it as a way to hold herself accountable to do the same.
“Off to get my notepad and 🖊️. We have got this,” she ended. “Love to you all. We are not alone. 💕@curemelanoma #skincancerawareness.”
Mellencamp’s journey with skin cancer began in March 2022 when she was exercising with her Real Housewives of Beverly Hills co-star Kyle Richards, who noticed spots on her back.
"She looked at my back and said, 'Listen, I know that I've talked to you about these spots before, but they look different — one of them has a black dot in the middle,' " she previously recalled to PEOPLE.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(599x0:601x2)/Teddi-Mellencamp-skin-cancer-35-11102022-cb19fc60f75f4522ba3958c5d9c74c81.jpg)
It turned out to be the first of 12 melanomas the reality star would need removed over the next eight months as she faced Stage 2 skin cancer. Mellencamp, who co-hosts the podcast Two T's in a Pod with fellow ex-housewife Tamra Judge, has since documented her skin cancer journey on social media.
In December 2022, Mellencamp told PEOPLE that the surgeries to remove her melanomas were successful and she is cancer-free — and not genetically predisposed to other cancers.
She admitted that she’s lucky she learned of her cancer when she did — the five-year survival rate is more than 90% if detected early — and she wants to keep speaking up to encourage others to do the same.
"During the pandemic, we avoided things that we thought weren't essential. But skin checks are essential," Mellencamp said at the time. "We've seen how quickly it can turn from one melanoma to 12. So when your doctor says, 'See you in three months,' it's three months."