Teddi Mellencamp is in tears as she opens up to Tamra Judge about her years-long health and cancer battle during a rare appearance on The Real Housewives of Orange County.
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The Real Housewives of Orange County airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. Episodes stream next day on Peacock.
“[My doctor] says it just takes time,” The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum tells Tamra in the above preview of Season 20, Episode 3 (airing Thursday, July 23 at 8 p.m. ET). “And, like, some people, after this happens, they can’t walk. They can’t do anything.” She repeats her doctor’s words to Tamra: “‘So the fact that you’re in your situation right now, you should really be grateful.’”
Then Teddi begins to tear up as she confesses, “But, sometimes, I’m really not grateful. I start to feel like I’m like, letting everybody down.”
However, Tamra insists, “You’re not letting anybody down!”
Teddi was initially diagnosed with Stage 2 melanoma in 2022, before revealing that the melanoma had spread to her brain and lungs in 2025, becoming Stage 4. Teddi shared during an interview with Nightline in April 2025 that doctors told her she had a 50 percent chance of surviving her Stage 4 cancer.
During the preview of the July 23 episode, Tamra works to get more information on Teddi’s health. “Are you still on a lot of medication?” Tamra asks, and Teddi answers, “I’m no longer on any of the ones that, like, give me the shakes…Isn’t that exciting?”
Teddi also shares an update on another side effect of her cancer and treatments: Memory loss. “I think I’m slowly starting to get [my memory] back again,” Teddi reveals to Tamra.
Tamra Judge opens up about her relationship with Teddi Mellencamp amid her cancer battle
Tamra also shares what it was like to see Teddi go through her devastating health struggles. “It was extremely difficult to watch Teddi battling cancer,” she tells producers in the preview of RHOC‘s July 23 episode. “Going through treatment—immunotherapy once a month. Her hair falling out after radiation.”
RELATED: Teddi Mellencamp Shares Emotional Details in Latest Cancer Update: “Very Alone”
“All we thought about was losing her,” Tamra shares in the preview. “And she would be like, ‘Bitch! I ain’t dying!’ Teddi Mellencamp is one strong woman.”
Tamra shares her hopefulness that her friendship with Teddi will one day get back to where it was. “I miss my partner in crime,” Tamra admits, and Teddi admits, “I don’t have the same fire.” But both ladies agree Teddi’s full personality will “come back” soon.
Tamra Judge details how Teddi Mellencamp’s cancer battle changed her outlook on friendships
Tamra was open during RHOC Season 19 about her difficulties coping with Teddi’s cancer diagnoses, and at one point, Tamra seemingly quit in the middle of filming Episode 6, before later returning. During the above preview, Tamra shares new details on how Teddi’s battle impacted both her behavior and her relationships with the other ‘Wives.
“It was horrible,” Tamra admits to Teddi. “And I don’t want to make this about me whatsoever, but to watch somebody that you love, and to hear the doctors say, like, ‘She could have six to nine months to live.’ I finally got like the best friend ever with you.”
She adds, “And then I would go around these girls, and I just felt like they just didn’t care. They just didn’t care.”
But, Tamra shares that she’s since learned not to sweat the small stuff. “Watching Teddi battle cancer, it put me over the edge last year,” Tamra confesses to producers. “But it taught me a lot.”
Teddi Mellencamp gives an update on her cancer battle today
Teddi shared a health update in January that “there’s still no trace of cancer” in her body during her podcast with Tamra, Two Ts in a Pod. However, she also clarified, “I’m still considered Stage 4, and I’m still in immunotherapy. So, essentially, nothing’s changed other than I still don’t feel great. I would hope that I would be feeling better by now, but I really don’t.”
RELATED: Teddi Mellencamp Shares New Outlook Amid Cancer Journey: “Near-Death Has That Effect on You”
As Teddi marked her 45th birthday on July 1, she documented how much her appearance had changed in a year, as she showed off a blonde pixie cut. “So for anyone who is curious. This is after one year of regrowth after losing it all during radiation,” she captioned a photo on her Instagram stories.
She later wrote in a post, “Happy Birthday to me! I made it to 45, but not without the help of my friends, family, surgeons, doctors, nurses, and all the support from you here…I am so grateful to all of you and dare I say, praying this is the best year yet.”
Learn more of Teddi’s thoughts on how her father, singer John Mellencamp, supports her during her cancer battle.
