Managing Advanced Melanoma Treatment
- Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Teddi Mellencamp, 44, is undergoing treatment for stage 4 melanoma, which has spread to her brain and lungs, making her fight especially complex. Her Immunotherapy treatment had to be paused after she struggled with its side effects.
- Melanoma begins in melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes. When these cells mutate, they can spread to other parts of the body.
- She’s receiving immunotherapy, a cutting-edge “living drug” that retrains the immune system to attack cancer—though its side effects have forced her medical team to pause the regimen.
- Side effects have deeply impacted Mellencamp’s daily life, making her miss cherished family moments. Immunotherapy side effects may include fatigue, nausea, joint pain, and even changes in blood cell counts. In extreme cases, it can trigger allergic reactions or the need to discontinue therapy altogether.
Mellencamp was widely considered the face of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (RHOBH) during her time on the show. The reality show is about a group of wealthy women living a lavish lifestyle in Beverly Hills. Mellencamp left RHOBH in 2020. She’s also the daughter of Grammy-award-winning singer John Mellencamp.
Read MoreBut for Mellencamp, the hope immunotherapy brings has been tempered by its harsh side effects. She recently revealed to People that her care team decided to pause treatment temporarily.
“We’re going to take a little break on the immunotherapy to get my body back feeling stronger,” Mellencamp shared on the Two Ts in a Pod with Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge podcast.
WATCH: The Side Effects of Immunotherapy.
Immunotherapy, while promising, is not easy.
“Of that 50% who get side effects, at least 10% are going to have severe side effects where we may need to stop their medicine,” noted Dr. Pavlick.
Common reactions include fatigue, nausea, joint pain, and even changes in blood cell counts. In extreme cases, it can trigger allergic reactions or the need to discontinue therapy altogether.
The toll on Mellencamp is both physical and emotional. “I’ve never in my adult life been in a situation where I’m like, ‘Gosh, I can’t do this right now.’ I can’t stay up that extra hour and put my kid to bed tonight, I can’t go to my daughter’s horse show, or oh my gosh, I’m going to have to miss Cruz’s practice. I’ve never once felt that way until recently, and it’s heartbreaking,” she admitted.
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In an Instagram video, Mellencamp offered a raw glimpse into her emotional landscape amid treatment. “It’s scary and I feel less than on the days I can’t show up and be here for you guys,” she said tearfully.
Despite the fatigue, Mellencamp has vowed to savor her good days. “On the days I feel good, I want to take advantage of it,” she said, emphasizing the importance of listening to her body—a lesson many cancer patients know all too well.
Her vulnerability and resilience have sparked an outpouring of support online. One Instagram user, Vanessa Giobbi, wrote, “Sending you lots of love and best wishes for your continued healing. You are so strong and courageous.”
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Immunotherapy Side Effects During Treatment for Melanoma
A new study published in JAMA Oncology is shedding light on the long-term side effects of immunotherapy in melanoma patients—revealing that chronic complications may be more widespread than previously thought.
“Chronic and long-lasting side effects were more common than we expected and involved a variety of often overlooked organs like the thyroid, salivary glands, and joints,” said Dr. Douglas Johnson, senior author of the study and associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
WATCH: Tell Your Doctor About Immunotherapy Side Effects
Despite the findings, Dr. Johnson emphasized the groundbreaking nature of immunotherapy, especially anti-PD-1 drugs. “It has been an absolute game-changer for patients with melanoma,” he noted. “I think the first thing to recognize is how really transformative the Anti-PD-1 drugs have been… patients can have very long-term responses to treatment.”
Still, for patients with advanced melanoma—especially those who’ve undergone surgical removal and have a low risk of recurrence—Dr. Johnson advised more nuanced conversations around treatment. “So determining whether the risks of the side effects, weighing the benefits of treatment with the risks of the side effects, can be an important consideration,” he said. “What our study did was we basically saw that some of these side effects were more common, really, than had been previously reported.”
Reported side effects can range from mild to severe, including dry throat, inflammation of the eye blood vessels, numbness, or tingling. And for many, the decision comes down to weighing symptom severity with potential longevity benefits.
WATCH: Managing Immunotherapy side effects.
Dr. Anna Pavlick, another expert in melanoma care, added context around immunotherapy management. “Depending upon the severity, it depends upon how we manage it,” she said.
“The percentage of patients who have very serious side effects from immunotherapy is contingent upon whether patients will get one medicine or a combination of two medicines.”
She explained that patients receiving a single immunotherapy drug face a 10–15% chance of experiencing severe reactions like rash or diarrhea. But for patients with metastatic melanoma, a dual-drug regimen—though more effective at controlling the cancer—comes with about a 50% chance of developing side effects
FDA-Approved Immunotherapy for Melanoma
There are several FDA-approved immunotherapies for melanoma. Each is approved for certain instances of melanoma.
- Tebentafusp-tebn (Kimmtrak)
- Aldesleukin (Proleukin)
- Atezolizumab (Tecentriq)
- Dostarlimab (Jemperli)
- Interferon alfa-2b (Intron A)
- Ipilimumab (Yervoy)
- Nivolumab (Opdivo)
- Peginterferon alfa-2b (Sylatron/PEG-Intron)
- Pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
- Talimogene laherparepvec (Imlygic)
- Imiquimod (Aldara)
The goal is to steadily reduce the risk of recurrence in all patients. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. Some people may not be candidates for this therapy, and side effects vary from person to person.
Understanding Melanomas
Melanoma starts in the same cells that give your skin, hair, and eyes their color. In melanoma, the cells change in a way that allows them to spread to other organs.
Changes to a mole you’ve had for a while or a new growth on your skin could be signs of melanoma, according to SurvivorNet’s experts. You’ll want to watch them and tell your doctor about any changes you notice.
WATCH: How do you perform a skin check using the ABCDEs?
SurvivorNet experts recommend avoiding unprotected sun exposure because ultraviolet (UV) radiation can lead to melanoma. Tanning beds pose ultraviolet radiation risks for skin cancer and should be avoided. Many dermatologists recommend using spray tans to reduce the risk of melanoma skin cancer.
The most important thing to look out for when it comes to finding melanoma is a new spot on your skin or a spot that is changing in size, shape, or color, SurvivorNet’s medical experts say.
Treatment options for melanoma include targeted therapy and immunotherapy, which give people a better chance of living a long and healthy life than ever before. If you’re diagnosed with melanoma, there’s a good chance surgery will be the treatment your doctor recommends.
Cancer removal usually leads to a cure in the early stages of the disease. After surgery, the removed tissue and lymph nodes are examined to measure the melanoma and determine if it has clear margins. Clear margins mean the cells around the area of tissue that was removed don’t contain any melanoma. When no cancer cells are left around the removed area, your cancer is less likely to return.
WATCH: Beating Aggressive Melanoma: An Immunotherapy Success Story
For melanoma patients who need additional treatment after surgery, they are likely to receive adjuvant therapy (treatments administered after surgery). Adjuvant therapy is designed to improve outcomes and decrease the risk of recurrence.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you are diagnosed with skin cancer, you may have some questions for your doctor. SurvivorNet suggests the following to help you on your cancer journey.
- What type of skin cancer do I have?
- What treatment options exist for my type of melanoma?
- Will insurance cover this treatment?
- Would treatment through a clinical trial make sense for me?
- What resources exist to help manage my anxiety because of this diagnosis?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
