As I reflect upon the life of Megan Fox, her journey from Hollywood stardom to skin cancer survivor and sun safety advocate truly resonates with me. Her unwavering commitment to educating others about the dangers of UV rays is commendable, especially considering her personal battle with melanoma.
Growing up, Teddi Mellencamp was just an American kid doin’ the best she can.
In the interview with TopMob News, the former star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills reminisced, saying, “If it were summer, I would find myself longing for my first sunburn so I could start tanning. However, during those same summers, we ate Pop Tarts for breakfast each morning. We didn’t realize the consequences at that time, did we?
She wasn’t overly knowledgeable about sun protection when someone pointed out the alterations in the spots on her back.
She admitted, “I thought that all melanoma appeared the same to me. So, I would say something like, ‘But my spots are red,’ or, ‘They look like this, it must be this.’ I ended up doing a lot of self-diagnosis, which is essentially just avoiding going to see a doctor.
Despite being diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma only days before BravoCon in 2022, she recalled thinking optimistically, “After this surgery, it will all be over,” at the age of 43. However, each time she returned for follow-ups, there was always more to worry about – another complication, something more severe.
So, yes, it can be tough to maintain her sunny disposition.
After enduring two long years and 16 surgeries to remove melanomas – with the most recent one in December 2023 being an extensive procedure where they extracted “a vast swath of my skin, housing most of my melanomas, followed by pulling my skin over the empty space left behind” – it’s the mental strain that has proven to be the toughest challenge for me, as a co-host on Two Ts in A Pod. When life takes an unexpected turn and events spiral beyond our control, we must learn to accept what transpires and seek tranquility within that reality.
The Bravo TV celebrity, who is married to Edwin Arroyave and has three children – Cruz (age 10), Slate (age 12), Dove (age 4) together, as well as a daughter named Bella (age 15) from a previous relationship – finds herself facing challenges due to the inability to secure life insurance policies.
She confessed, “Sometimes you face deep, troubling thoughts such as, ‘Will I survive? How will this impact my kids? My spouse? My company?’ These are the feelings and concerns that cross your mind.
And just like any savvy Housewife, she’s developed some survival strategies.
The wellness coach expressed that her emotional states can vary significantly due to her surgeries and related circumstances. She often copes with self-care practices like taking walks, meditation, or journaling. On some days, she allows herself to feel low, acknowledging, “I’m going to let myself crash today,” especially when she has some personal time, using it to express her emotions through crying. This approach makes it easier for her to process her feelings rather than maintaining an illusion of constant perfection.
Nor does she try to hide the situation from her family.
Speaking about her most significant operation, which took place a day after Christmas last year, Mellencamp stated, “Given its magnitude, I required hospitalization at a convalescent center for a brief period.
With 800 stitches in her back, ‘The pain was extremely severe.’ And feeling compelled to explain, ‘Mommy might be feeling more emotional than usual, or unable to do everything she’d like to do for now. But remember, I’m doing this so that I can stay strong and continue looking after all of you.’
In a somewhat daunting manner, Mellencamp expressed that they took pride in their openness, stating, “They embraced the situation openly.” Remarkably, his daughter stepped up as a caregiver, and including them in the process rather than concealing it from them, made them feel more at ease.
And, of course, her brood knows to never leave the house without applying sunscreen.
Whenever they’re swimming with their friends for an hour, Mellencamp typically says, “Alright everyone, let’s get back in now.” If they protest, he responds, “Seriously?” in a surprised tone.
Her mission to educate extends far beyond her L.A.-area home, though.
According to Mellencamp, people often think that they only need to apply sunscreen when they’re at the pool or beach with their family. However, after discovering a large number of her melanomas on the right side of her body, which is exposed to sunlight in the car, she emphasized the importance of being mindful about sun protection not just outside, but also while driving and engaging in various activities.
Additionally, she underscores the significance of donning hats, sunshades, and garments offering UVA and UVB protection, as one might assume that a long-sleeved shirt alone is sufficient for skin protection. Furthermore, she highlights the need for regular eye examinations since melanoma can manifest in this area too.
However, Mellencamp – who is scheduled to host the Melanoma Research Foundation’s yearly gala in New York City on October 24 – experiences her greatest sense of pride when medical professionals inform her that their stories inspired patients to seek medical attention following her own narrative.
“It’s very important that people know they should go to a certified, licensed dermatologist, to get their checks,” she stressed. “And the check should take more than five seconds. It should be a full body check.”
Besides discussing the significance of sun safety, she also plans to reveal more intriguing topics this fall. She and Tamra Judge are preparing to bring their talk show on a tour, starting with the first-ever TWOTSCON: Two Ts In A Pod LIVE in Los Angeles on November 1.
After having a fantastic time hosting their iHeartRadio podcast in San Francisco last January, Mellencamp expressed, “We aim to engage with our listeners, regardless of whether they admire us or criticize us. It’s evident that there’s something about us that keeps people tuned in.
Although she acknowledges that the upcoming event won’t entirely bridge the gap left by BravoCon, which fans eagerly anticipate but won’t be back until 2025, Mellencamp shared that “We aimed to provide a small sample of Housewives from various franchises.” She further added, “By opening up the Q&A section for any questions, and conducting it in a more personal manner, we hope to offer an intimate experience.
Amongst stars like Dolores Catania from New Jersey, Marysol Patton of Miami, Cynthia Bailey in Atlanta, and Heather Dubrow of Orange County (with a few unexpected visitors too), the atmosphere promises to be quite lively and exciting!
Mellencamp joked, “Here, you’ll certainly find the chance to have your questions answered, whatever they may be.
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2024-10-13 17:18