TV star issues chilling plea to fans amid stage 4 cancer battle

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By James Kay

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Teddi Mellencamp, the 44-year-old media personality and former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, is using her Instagram platform to send a crucial message to her followers.

Teddi’s Cancer Battle and Life Insurance Advice

In an emotional video shared on Instagram, Teddi made a somber announcement to her fans, saying: “I’m currently living with stage four melanoma.”

She explained that her diagnosis came as a shock, even though she had previously been treated for stage one melanoma.

Reflecting on her past, Teddi shared: "When I was younger I could have effortlessly gotten life insurance and it could have changed my worries, my concerns. Right now there are so many unknowns. Life insurance shouldn't be one of them."

Teddi explained that having life insurance when she was younger would have alleviated a lot of stress and given her peace of mind.

She added: “This is too important not to share. With everything that’s happened in my health journey, life insurance is the one thing I look back on and wish I would have gotten when I was younger.”

Screenshot 2025-09-16 at 11.57.00.jpg Teddi Mellencamp issued a plea to her followers. Credit: Instagram / Teddi Mellencamp

A Heartfelt Appeal to Her Followers

Teddi, who is the daughter of musician John Mellencamp, expressed her regret over not securing life insurance earlier, stressing that “there’s no wrong time to get life insurance."

"Do it now. Do it for your kids. Do it for your family. Do it for your peace of mind.”

She went on to share that, had she gotten life insurance earlier, it would have saved her “so much stress” and likely been more affordable.

In her post's caption, Teddi reiterated her message, encouraging her followers to act now and not wait for the "unknowns" of life to catch them off guard.

She also took the opportunity to promote her partnership with Policygenius, providing a way for her followers to start their own journey toward securing life insurance.

"Head to the link in my bio for a free quote," she urged, adding, “And please tag someone below who you think this could help.”

GettyImages-2213905759.jpg Mellencamp is battling stage four skin cancer. Credit: Christopher Polk / Getty

Teddi’s Personal Health Journey

Teddi’s life insurance message comes amid a challenging period in her personal life.

She shared a glimpse of her ongoing health journey with fans, revealing that she is undergoing immunotherapy treatment after her melanoma metastasized, leading to the development of large tumors in her brain.

This devastating news came just months after Teddi filed for divorce from her husband, Edwin Arroyave, in November 2024, per the Daily Mail.

In February, Teddi underwent emergency surgery to remove the brain tumors, followed by radiation and immunotherapy treatments.

She had been suffering from migraines for six months before seeking medical attention, and her decision to finally visit the doctor came after the symptoms became unbearable.


Teddi’s Message: No Sympathy, Just Action

In her video, Teddi made it clear that she was not sharing her story for sympathy, but rather to help others make proactive decisions for their future.

"I’m not sharing this information for you guys to feel bad for me, or for sympathy; I’m sharing it because I really want to make a change," she explained.

She encouraged her followers to learn from her experience, urging them to take action sooner rather than later.

"The sooner you do this the better. That's why I’m so insistent on you guys getting life insurance as soon as you can," she said, emphasizing the importance of not waiting until it’s too late.

Featured image credit: Christopher Polk / Getty