Teddi Mellencamp used World Cancer Day to remind her fans to get themselves checked for skin cancer. The reality star, 43 — who was forced to evacuate during the recent LA fires — shared a photo of a large Z-shaped scar on her back on Instagram as a reminder of how important an annual visit to the doctor can be. 'It's #worldcancerday so I'd like to remind you to get your skin checks scheduled,' she wrote next to a video clip from her guest spot on the Him & Her Show podcast with Lauryn and Michael Bostick on Dear Media.

'If this is your first time seeing this, I recently shared my full melanoma journey on @tscpodcast. Give it a listen when you have a chance,' she wrote. 'If it's not your first time, I hope it's a good reminder [heart-emoji].Who's making their appointment today?'. In a clip shared on Instagram, the former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star said, 'Have you seen my back? I had this ginormous patch on the back of my shoulder that I always kind of had. I was born with it.'.

Teddi Mellencamp, 43, reminded her fans on World Cancer Day to remember to make appointments with their doctors to get their annual skin cancer check scheduled; seen in October 2024. The reality star, 43 — who was forced to evacuate during the recent LA fires — shared a photo of a large Z-shaped scar on her back on social media as a reminder of how important an annual visit to the doctor can be. She said as time went on she started getting growths that 'almost look like sunspots.'.

She credited two good friends with insisting she go to the doctor to have them checked out. 'I guess it was three years ago, I was on a run with Kyle (Richards) and our friend Jen, and they were like "Teddi, the things on your back. You're going to the doctor."'. Mellencamp said at the time, she 'didn't take it seriously, plus I didn't know that skin cancer was a big deal.'. She quickly learned that it was. After seeing her back, Mellencamp said her doctor told her, 'you're going to need to go to an oncologist, but I'm going to cut this one out and we're gonna start this process.

Mellencamp was diagnosed with stage two melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer and kills nearly 10,000 people per year, in 2022. According to the Centers for Disease Control, melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in men and the sixth most common in women. The Certified Wellness Coach estimated that since her initial diagnosis, she has had about 20 surgeries to combat the cancer. The reality star announced in January 2024 that she was in remission from the disease but would need to keep attending her three month checkups. She estimates she has had some 20 surgeries to combat the disease.

Mellencamp (right in 2024) credited her pal Kyle Richards (left in 2024) for encouraging her to get several 'growths' on her back checked out by a doctor. Her biggest surgery was a 'wide excision for melanoma and soft tissue defect reconstruction with adjacent tissue rearrangement,' according to E! News, which she underwent back in December 2023. This is the surgery that left her with the large, zig-zag scar across her back and shoulder.

Mellencamp announced in January 2024 that she was in remission from the disease but would need to keep attending her three month checkup — which she said are 'never easy.'. Fans who saw the post offered their gratitude. 'You keep me accountable to my own journey thank you ❤️,' wrote one fan. 'You first started sharing it right around the same time I was diagnosed with melanoma, and you inspired me. ❤️' shared another.

'You have kept me so accountable! I had my 4th Basal Cell and another pre-cancer removed 2 weeks ago,' said a fellow cancer patient. 'I get seen every 6 months! You are one my biggest reasons and I am so grateful for your transparency and advocacy! Stay strong, always!!! ❤️'. Last month, Mellencamp broke down in tears after attending her latest three month checkup. She revealed to fans on Instagram that the appointment marked 'the first time in over two years [that] I've gone in for my three-month check and not had to have a biopsy because I have another cancerous spot.'.

Mellencamp announced in January 2024 that she was in remission from the disease but would need to keep attending her three month checkup — which she said are 'never easy'; seen in 2022. She explained that she and her doctor looked at each other in shock when they got the news that nothing had to be biopsied, sharing that it was 'such a good feeling.'. 'I'll go back in March, stay diligent with my checks, and this should be a reminder to all of you guys, please, please, book your skin checks, book your mammograms, book your OB/GYN appointments, book your eye doctor appointments,' she urged.