How Teddy Mellencamp copes tumors on the brain using humor

Teddy mellencamp Has embraced his sense of humor in combating cancer.

“I must. If I didn’t find humor, I would cry,” Mellencamp told ABC NEWS In an interview that broadcast in April 2025. It’s kind of, the only way because otherwise I would cry all the time.

Mellencamp, who shares three children with a disengaged man Edwin ArroyaveShe announced in early 2025 that she had had brain surgery after doctors found several malignant tumors. Hi required additional treatment To control those who were unable to be removed by surgery, but throughout, Mellencamp tried to keep a sense of levity with her friends and family.

“One of my coping mechanisms is to be savage,” Mellencamp told Weekly US In his April 2025 cover story. “Sometimes, I feel that constant positivity can be at least toxic because I would rather have a joke about it and then get the best possible result than to completely deny it and then have my heart broken.”

Keep scrolling for more on how a mellencamp uses humor to deal with its cancer battle:

Small star power

In his unique Weekly US Cover story, Mellencamp was teasing how she is a former Real housewives from Beverly hills costume Kyle Richards She discussed her diagnosis first.

“We call Kyle and we are like, ‘How do we go into Cedars (Sinai)?’” Mellencamp joked, referring to Los Angeles Area Hospital. “He called around and found a way for us to get in. She’s like, ‘but you need to get there by 9:00. And I’m like,’ it’s 8:22 and we’re in Tarzana. ‘So, I had to check myself out of Tarzana Hospital. I tell the doctor,’ I’m so appreciative to you, but my friend got me in. ‘ It’s like, ‘but I couldn’t get you in again. I’m like,’ I have to be there by 9. ‘ Kyle saved the day.

According to Mellencamp, Richards spoke to Nancy Davis – Mother Brandon DavisWho is married to the actress Ashley Benson After 2000s romances with Mischa Barton and Lindsay Lohan – For help.

“Nancy Davis was the one to get me in,” Mellencamp told Us. “So, thank you, Nancy Davis. I’ve never met you, but you got me into cockpit… (and) Within 24 hours, an incredible surgeon managed to pull the tumors of four seasons from my brain.”

Normal Normal

Mellencamp was joking to Us that she thought initially that her recovery might feel like one for him plastic.

“The doll is different. I thought it was going to feel, like, how I felt after my neck lift,” he said. “But he didn’t. The Prednisone just messed up that, but no, it actually takes a couple of days, and then it will hit you pretty hard.”

Seek a new look

Mellencamp debuted long yellow wig via Instagram in April 2025.

“Does this megalodon tooth make me look like I’m dating @relationshep or trying to get on The charm of the south? ”He wrote through Instagram, noting that the wig and shark tooth necklace were gifts of a childhood friend Shep rose.

She told her before Us With laughter she’s “so over” her pixie break.

“Because they had to put the small drains in, I had these holes in my hair and so that’s why We shaved it in the end”Mellencamp said weeks earlier.” But it became news for me as a post-radiation, you lose chunks of your hair anyway, so I have to make a second shaving. (My son), Cruz, make it a little better because it’s like, ‘Mum, we can get all the same hair cuts. ‘”

He added, “I’m like, ‘That’s so great for you. That’s terrible news for me.’ We can bond over it.

Checking memory function

In her interview in April 2025 with ABC News, Mellencamp revealed how doctors tried to check her memory.

“This one woman and every day she had come in and asked me the date. I would, ‘Ask me things I know,’” she quoted to host Deborah Roberts. “Ask me for pop culture, ask me for all Angelina JolieChildren’s Names’. “

Look at the odds

“One of my favorite things to ask is ‘How long did I get?’ or ‘what is my chances?‘”He quoted to ABC in April 2025.“ They oftentimes say 50/50. ’50/50? We will not buy a car that is only going to drive 50 percent of the time. I don’t want this. ‘And it’s like,’ No, just because that’s how long immunotherapy has been around and how long the study has worked. ‘ That’s why I’m trying to find the positive. “

A reminder of her deaths

Is a challenge Us A cover story, Mellencamp quoted that she has no “many feelings” about the possibility of her death.

“Everyone thinks there is a moment in treatment, but when you have a brain surgery you are not really there. Like my dad (John Mellencamp) He came, all my brothers and sisters came. I had friends from all over the country coming to visit, ”he said.” Edwin was on a mission to make sure every person he knows I, like, love and care came around to visit me. I don’t remember one person. “

Teddi continued, “I finally sent me this message, like, someone sent me a Facebook and I was like, ‘Hold on, it was there?’ There are some things that your brain doesn’t understand.

According to Teddies, doctors put what he called in “little white handcuffs” called a reminder to help her memory.

“They like to call them reminders. I’m like, they don’t remind us. These little white things attached to myself are not reminded. Please, I promise I won’t touch my head. Someone will watch me, I won’t touch my head, ‘” he added. “I’m like, ‘If I ever see those white reminders again.’ … They’re like, ‘Sometimes you seemed to be completely with it and you were in a joke and sometimes you were just a mess and couldn’t be reasoned with them.’ “

Divorce on custody

While filed for divorce From Arroyave in November 2024, they put the case on the back burner.

“The second I was diagnosed, it changed completely, and it has been there for me 100 percent,” said Teddi Us. “It’s been there for the children and we’re back to laugh. We call the divorce ‘chronicle’ because, you know, I’m not even getting driven. So like, if I want to go to work out, I’m like, ‘Hey, what time do you work out tomorrow?’ And as, (i) still not install (an) alarm clock.

He added, “I can’t complain about all the things I loved for our wedding, but without all the problems.”

Support the children

“I pay for therapy, (a) by the way, insurance doesn’t cover it,” he told Us. “I am pay for therapy Every Friday. I’m like, ‘I don’t have tools to fully handle this. You are a professional. Here’s a little money. Help. ‘Then they can come out and it really helps because then they come and ask me questions that I wouldn’t probably have thought of giving them. “

Teddi stressed that she wanted to show her children that she was “fighting very hard” to beat the cancer.

“I. Can’t imagine my life Without them, ”he added.” I’m going to do everything I might not matter how editing it makes me. “

An unexpected gift

Teddi revealed on her “Two T in a Pod” podcast that she was surprised before Frenemy Vicki Gunvalson Sending a care package post-operative.

“My favorite part about Vicki reaching out is her to send a Housewives Coloring book I’m not in, ”said Teddy Us. “Of course I’m not in it, but, like, I’m not in it, Erika (Jayne)It is not in it (a) Tamra (judge)It is not in it, (but Vicki) is on the cover. “

Useful PSA

“Get life insurance early,” he told Us. “Go ahead and sip on over and get it now.”