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Teddy Mellencamp
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Teddy Mellencamp
Two T's in a Pod with Teddy Mellencamp and Tama. Hi, guys. Welcome to another episode of two Teas in a Pod with myself, Teddy Mellencamp, and Tamara Judge.
Tamara Judge
Hey, Teddy.
Teddy Mellencamp
Hey. Hey. I am calling you from the actual room where I'm getting my immunotherapy treatment.
Tamara Judge
I understand that. I understand you have an update for us. You just had a scan done.
Teddy Mellencamp
I do. I have an update. So an exciting news. So last time, they had checked fully my brain, and those tumors were shrinking. And then today, I had the scan, and where they checked my lungs, and they are shrinking, and one of them has shrunk so much you can barely even see it.
Tamara Judge
That's great.
Teddy Mellencamp
So it's really, really good news. I'm definitely so relieved. I'm also a little bit. Like, if I sound a little weird, it's because I'm in the middle of immunotherapy treatment right now. But what they said was, this is good news. It means my body's responding to everything. But I do need to live on immunotherapy for the next two years. So every four weeks for the next two years, I have to come in and get that done. So. And then I get. Every three months, I get another scan, and we check to make sure that everything is. Is where it is. But the part that I was confused about, I thought that, like, once the tumors start going away, I'm like, so does that mean I'm cancer free? And he's like, no. He's like, you, we will let you know when you're in remission. But at this point, everything's just heading the correct way.
Tamara Judge
So immunotherapy ever for two years, every four weeks, is that just controlling it or is it curing it?
Teddy Mellencamp
It's both. It's making sure that it's getting smaller, and then let's say that it gets so small that it disappears. It's making sure that it won't form anywhere else in my body.
Tamara Judge
Okay, so it's also controlling it. Yeah.
Teddy Mellencamp
Yeah. So something that I learned today. That's pretty cool. So the reason they were able to do this treatment on me because, remember, radiation didn't work and the tumors were getting bigger, and, like, I was only able to get certain surgeries is because at Cedar's clinic, There's everything in one spot. So because of that, they can do multiple treatments and figure out what works for you individually. So I think what ends up happening to a lot of people, if, you know, this is why I'm so grateful that I live in California, is they go to, you know, they have to go to all these different doctors at different locations where mine is kind of like a one stop shop.
Tamara Judge
That's great.
Teddy Mellencamp
And yeah, so it's. It's really good news.
Tamara Judge
Do you have another one in three weeks and then after that you do every four weeks or from now on it only every four weeks.
Teddy Mellencamp
So this is my last one. This is so also right now I'm on three medications when I'm doing the immunotherapy. And I was very cons. I mean, granted, this is going to sound wild considering I should just be thrilled regardless, but I was like, on these current medications, I still feel really sick. Sick.
Tamara Judge
Yeah.
Teddy Mellencamp
And especially like after day six, I get really sick. And he said, well, for this one that you're doing right now, you're still be on the three medications, but then it rotates and you'll be on two medications and your body starts to become more immune to it, so you don't get as sick.
Tamara Judge
That's good.
Teddy Mellencamp
I thought was pretty. Which I thought is pretty interesting because I was a little bit worried about having to live on immunotherapy because you know how I am when I get super emotional on certain nays. But I think that the fact that this is all moving in a smooth path forward is. Is really good news.
Tamara Judge
Yeah. I mean, just the fact that you're. The tumors are responding to the immunotherapy is just absolutely amazing because there could have been a chance that they would not have responded.
Teddy Mellencamp
Correct, Correct. And then the part that's even more wild, I'm like, can I do everything? And he's like, what do you mean? I'm like, somebody invited me to go skydiving tomorrow. Can I go?
Tamara Judge
You're not going. You're not. I'm not allowing you to do that.
Teddy Mellencamp
Well, that's not actually what he said. He said, yes, of course you can go.
Tamara Judge
No, he said you can do ab.
Teddy Mellencamp
He goes, you can do absolutely anything. And then. But this is the best part. I go, well, can I drive? And he goes, nope, not for three more weeks because you had a seizure and you have to wait three more weeks.
Tamara Judge
Yeah. You're not really going to skydive.
Teddy Mellencamp
No. Three more months, by the way. Three more months.
Tamara Judge
You're not really going to skydive, right?
Teddy Mellencamp
No. Why would you take me seriously? You think I'm going to make an effort to go somewhere, to go skydiving?
Tamara Judge
Okay.
Teddy Mellencamp
I just want to.
Tamara Judge
I never know with you. I just want to make sure.
Teddy Mellencamp
Well, I just wanted to make sure that any people don't give me any slack, like, oh, you're riding horses, you're on an airplane, you're doing your life.
Tamara Judge
You can do whatever you want as long as you not skydiving. I tell that to Eddie.
Teddy Mellencamp
Well, he said. Well, he said, you know, the fact that you're doing so well shows that you being able to do so many things has helped your body heal because you're doing things that you love. So that was really cool.
Tamara Judge
So why did they. How did they determine two years? Do you know?
Teddy Mellencamp
That's. I don't know if that's standard protocol, but I. I said, what if I want to stop it shorter? And he, like, kind of lifted his glasses up and he looked at me and he goes, two years is what I strongly recommend.
Tamara Judge
And then after the two years, did he say, no, no.
Teddy Mellencamp
You go to like, you're like, my dad. My dad came into town for this. Well, first thing is, my dad comes into town. We. I have to go get my scans or I have to drink that, like, disgusting milky stuff that's like, makes me radioactive or whatever. And then I go get my scans and I come out, my dad's there. We're waiting for the doctor. The doctor comes in, and then I know he has my results. And then my dad and him are making small talk. Finally. I'm like, hey, gentlemen, any chance we could do the results first?
Tamara Judge
So what'd your dad say about the results?
Teddy Mellencamp
He goes, so you're cured? I go, dad, yes, I'm much better, but I am not cured yet. Which AK means you still gotta. I still gotta be the favorite. And you still gotta be the nicest to me because I'm still fighting.
Tamara Judge
So you're gonna milk it. You're gonna milk it.
Teddy Mellencamp
Yeah.
Tamara Judge
Well, that's great.
Teddy Mellencamp
Thank you. Such good news. And I just wanted to call you and kind of give you the update. And I know that I'm not going to be on the pod that much for the next couple weeks, but then I am back and hopefully in full force starting on June 1st. So I just kind of wanted to give everybody a heads up that I'm doing okay. And I am really appreciative to Cam and to Dolores and everybody. And I heart for filling in and being able to do so much with me no matter how sick I'm feeling, they're able to figure out ways to work around my schedule. So I'm really grateful to you guys. But I am hoping my dream, my goal is, along with skydiving, is being back being back full time on the podcast around June 1st.
Tamara Judge
That's amazing. So happy.
Teddy Mellencamp
Thanks, babe. We did it. Looks like we made it.
Tamara Judge
Oh, today was. I knew today was so stressful for you and we were chatting a little bit this morning and I'm like, oh, it's going to be great news. It's great news. And this is great news.
Teddy Mellencamp
It's very good news. And now I just have to keep staying on it and make sure that I and you know, listen to my body. If there's a day that I'm not feeling well, I have to remember just because I'm not doing treatment as often, I'm still in recovery and I still need to be taking care of myself.
Tamara Judge
That's right.
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Teddy Mellencamp
To.
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Thanks.
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Seriously.
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Let me check this pocket. Oh, mints.
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Tamara Judge
All right, so you're doing immunotherapy as we talk right now. How long does that last?
Teddy Mellencamp
Two hours.
Tamara Judge
Okay. When you do this moving forward, is it still the same amount of time in immunotherapy?
Zoe Saldana
Is it shorter?
Teddy Mellencamp
I think it's going to be shorter because it's two hours for three different meds. So I think it'll be one hour. Because I'm down to two meds is my guess, because I have. They call it the bags. So I have two bags right now. I do, but I think it switches to just one bag.
Tamara Judge
Yay.
Teddy Mellencamp
Yay. But I love you, Tam. Thank you so much for everything.
Tamara Judge
Yes. All right, well, and I need all.
Teddy Mellencamp
Of your updates soon, and hopefully I'm going to be just more and more with it. And then I'm like, well, can I stop my. You know, my medic, my other medications? And he's like, no, you've recently had a seizure, so you've gotta keep. Stay on the Keppra and those medications. But at least I'm not on any narcotics. I'm on no narcotics, and I'm on no. What is the steroids? Those are the ones that made me crazy. So super good news all the way around.
Tamara Judge
No pain.
Teddy Mellencamp
The pain is great. I'm actually in here right now. This is pretty crazy. I'm in here right now with my doctor. Can you explain a little bit? I talked just now. We're on the podcast, doing two T's in a pod. I talked a little bit about why it's so great at the Angelus Clinic about having everything in one spot. But is there something you can say in, like, two minutes that could explain it probably better than I did. All right, you guys, I'm putting you on with my doctor who I've made his life probably living hell, but either way, working through it. And he's going to walk you guys through immunotherapy because a lot of you don't even know what immunotherapy is because to my knowledge, it's only been around about 10 years. And I believe my doctor was the founder of immunotherapy. Give him a little brag there, maybe. I'm on this. Hold on. Here he is.
Doctor (unnamed)
All right, well, Teddy is. Is an expert in hyperbole, but what she meant to say is that I'm one of the initial physicians to run the trials on this type of immunotherapy she's getting. Immunotherapy has been known for many years to work to cause the resolution of tumors. From in the olden days when people got mumps or measles, some tumors resolved. Cooley's toxin. Cooley was a surgeon at Memorial who injected some things near a tumor. Don Morton, who is a very well known surgeon, used to give BCG into tumors and create an immune inflammation. We know that that should happen because just like your immune system gets rid of viruses and bacteria, it can get rid of tumors. And what we have designed and done as a field over the last two decades are drugs that work to reignite the immune system. And that's what's working for Teddy. It's important to know that those drugs can cause significant and serious side effects. So a place that has expertise in it is what you should be looking for. And for a tumor like melanoma, where it's not the most common tumor, but it's a top five cancer for young women like Teddy, it takes, you know, it's top two and years of life lost behind leukemia. And it is an ongoing issue. What's important to know is you need to have either on your team or as your main oncologist, someone who has that expertise. Now, these drugs are great because we've shown that they can cross into the brain and control and resolve disease that's in the brain, which is, you know, the benefits that we're seeing here with Teddy, we've also found that it's durable. You can teach the immune system and at some point stop giving this drug. And, you know, as I come, as I come down to see Teddy, I leave the room of someone who was in a similar position a decade ago. And this is the benefits of immunotherapy. Response and durability beyond what we've seen before with chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, or targeted agents. So to come to a place where it's not just like a park once place where all the imaging and the surgeon and the oncologist and the procedures can be done at the same time, but to come to a place that has many, many decades of experience with this tumor is important, or any tumor. So here we've built a clinic of expertise, someone who does just lung cancers or female cancers or gastrointestinal cancers, but also the ability to be close to an expert team of physicians, nurses, staff. And I really think that that helps. Not just when things are going well, but if you run into a side effect or if there's a need to move into a clinical trial or something like that.
Teddy Mellencamp
Remember that doesn't live in California. Find the best type of doctor for them.
Doctor (unnamed)
Well, I think you need to first talk to your doctor and you say, hey, I need a. I'd like a second opinion with someone who spends the majority of their time focused on my cancer. You know, most oncologists, because of need, because of need, learn a lot about everything and don't focus like someone like me on one cancer. So you can go to your foundations. This is a nice way to give a plug because it's melanoma awareness month for the Melanoma Research alliance, the Melanoma Research foundation aim at melanoma, which is an amazing. All of them are patient advocacy, research and educational places. So a lot there.
Tamara Judge
Can I ask you one question? Hi, it's Tamara. So two years. How do you determine the two years to continue immunotherapy every four weeks? And after that two years, would there be a chance?
Doctor (unnamed)
Everybody's different. Everyone's different, Everybody's different. And so that's why they say, you know, like medicine is an art, you just have to remember, you remember the risks, the benefits, and the data. Ultimately, in the course of these two years, we may get better data to help us make decisions. But right now we're continuing.
Teddy Mellencamp
And I have a question. I remember at one point I came in and said, what is the chance of me surviving from melanoma? And I believe that you said 35%. What would you say it is? Now? I'm not going to cry. I just wanted to.
Doctor (unnamed)
Well, here's what I said to you. I said to you that the average survivals have gone from six months to six years, that the patients with brain metastases, the response rates are now 50% or greater. And we're seeing somewhere for five year survivals with patients with brain metastases somewhere 40 to 50%. And it doesn't matter. Statistics are for, you know, big populational stuff like education, transportation, sanitation. But we would work with the therapy that gives you the best chance of working. And what we know with immunotherapy and melanoma is if you make it to three years without having anything grow or come back, you're golden about 95% of the time. All right, well, we'll leave her at that.
Teddy Mellencamp
That's good news. All right, so we got to make it through your Appreciate it. Thank you so much. And just for anybody else that wants more information, the 15th annual Los Angeles Melanoma Symposium is Thursday, May 22. If you want to register for it, it's www.aim a t melanoma.org and then click on Symposium and you can learn more. Or if it's easier for you to call, you can just call 310-231-2120. Well, thanks guys for tuning in to another episode of Two T's in a Pod. Of course, this one's a little different than others, but it's got good news tied to it.
Tamara Judge
Yeah, we got a lot of information, some good news. So Teddy, I will talk to you after your immunotherapy. I hope that you're feeling good after that and we'll talk soon.
Teddy Mellencamp
All right, Bye babe.
Tamara Judge
Bye.
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Teddy Mellencamp
This is an iHeart podcast.
Podcast Summary: Two Ts In A Pod with Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge
Episode: An Update from Teddi
Release Date: May 14, 2025
Hosts: Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge
Producer: iHeartPodcasts
In the heartfelt episode titled "An Update from Teddi," hosts Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge pivot from their usual discussions about reality TV and pop culture to share a deeply personal and inspiring update about Teddi's ongoing health journey. This episode offers listeners an intimate look into Teddi’s battle with melanoma, her response to treatment, and the hopeful path forward.
Teddi Mellencamp begins the conversation by sharing recent positive news from her medical team. She reveals that her latest scans show significant shrinking of her brain and lung tumors, with one tumor reducing to a nearly invisible size (03:17).
Key Highlights:
Progress in Treatment: Teddi emphasizes the good news that her body's response to immunotherapy is strong, leading to tumor shrinkage.
“This is really, really good news. I'm definitely so relieved.” (03:17)
Ongoing Treatment Plan: She discusses the necessity of continuing immunotherapy for the next two years, with treatments administered every four weeks and quarterly scans to monitor her progress.
“I do need to live on immunotherapy for the next two years. So every four weeks for the next two years, I have to come in and get that done.” (03:36)
Emotional Impact: Teddi shares her emotional state, acknowledging feelings of relief tempered with the reality of an extended treatment regimen.
“If I sound a little weird, it's because I'm in the middle of immunotherapy treatment right now.” (03:37)
Midway through the episode, Teddi introduces a guest—the doctor overseeing her treatment—who provides an expert explanation of immunotherapy and its role in cancer treatment.
Expert Insights:
Mechanism of Action: The doctor explains that immunotherapy works by reigniting the immune system to target and destroy cancer cells, offering a sustainable and durable response compared to traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.
“Immunotherapy has been known for many years to work to cause the resolution of tumors.” (17:34)
Side Effects and Management: He highlights the importance of specialized clinics that can manage the significant side effects associated with immunotherapy, ensuring personalized and effective care.
“These drugs can cause significant and serious side effects. So a place that has expertise in it is what you should be looking for.” (17:33)
Treatment Duration: The doctor discusses the rationale behind the two-year treatment plan, emphasizing that the duration is tailored based on evolving data and individual patient responses.
“Everybody's different. So that's why they say, you know, like medicine is an art, you just have to remember...” (23:04)
Teddi reflects on her treatment experience, expressing gratitude for the comprehensive care at Cedar’s Clinic, which offers a one-stop-shop approach for her cancer care. She shares optimism about the future, aiming to return fully to podcasting by June 1st despite the challenges posed by her treatment.
Notable Reflections:
Comprehensive Care: Teddi praises the clinic’s integrated approach, which has been pivotal in her positive response to treatment.
“Because at Cedar's clinic, there's everything in one spot. So because of that, they can do multiple treatments and figure out what works for you individually.” (05:38)
Managing Side Effects: She candidly discusses the side effects of her current medications and the plan to rotate medications to mitigate these effects over time.
“You're still be on the three medications, but then it rotates and you'll be on two medications and your body starts to become more immune to it, so you don't get as sick.” (06:09)
Support System: Teddi expresses heartfelt gratitude towards her support network, including family and medical staff, for their unwavering support during her treatment.
“I'm really grateful to Cam and to Dolores and everybody.” (09:43)
The episode concludes on a hopeful note, with Teddi sharing statistics about melanoma survival rates and encouraging listeners to stay informed and proactive about their health. She also promotes the upcoming 15th Annual Los Angeles Melanoma Symposium as a resource for those seeking more information.
Inspiring Statistics:
Survival Rates: The doctor shares uplifting statistics, noting a significant increase in survival rates for melanoma patients undergoing immunotherapy.
“We've shown that they can cross into the brain and control and resolve disease that's in the brain... five-year survivals with patients with brain metastases somewhere 40 to 50%.” (23:58)
Long-Term Outlook: Achieving three years without cancer recurrence offers a 95% chance of long-term remission, providing a strong incentive for continued treatment adherence.
“If you make it to three years without having anything grow or come back, you're golden about 95% of the time.” (23:58)
Teddi and Tamra wrap up the episode by reiterating the good news and the importance of ongoing support and self-care. Teddi anticipates rejoining the podcast full-time in June, looking forward to sharing more positive updates with their audience.
“We did it. Looks like we made it.” (10:44)
Teddi Mellencamp:
“This is really, really good news. I'm definitely so relieved.” (03:17)
“Do I sound a little weird, it's because I'm in the middle of immunotherapy treatment right now.” (03:37)
Doctor:
“These drugs can cause significant and serious side effects. So a place that has expertise in it is what you should be looking for.” (17:33)
“If you make it to three years without having anything grow or come back, you're golden about 95% of the time.” (23:58)
Teddi Mellencamp:
“Because at Cedar's clinic, there's everything in one spot. So because of that, they can do multiple treatments and figure out what works for you individually.” (05:38)
“I'm really grateful to Cam and to Dolores and everybody.” (09:43)
This episode of "Two Ts In A Pod" stands out as a powerful testament to resilience, the advancements in medical treatments, and the unyielding support of loved ones. Teddi Mellencamp's courageous sharing serves not only as an update but also as an inspiration to listeners navigating their own health battles.