Teddi Mellencamp finds joy in new relationship during health battle

Teddi Mellencamp is embracing a new chapter in her personal life, revealing she is dating again while continuing her treatment for stage 4 cancer.

Speaking on her podcast Two Ts in a Pod, the former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star shared that she has been seeing an “older” man, whom she referred to as “Derek,” but is intentionally taking things slow.

“We’re going to call him Derek,” Mellencamp said. “He’s older than I am.”

The 44-year-old, who shares three children with ex-husband Edwin Arroyave, acknowledged that dating as parents brings its own challenges.

“That’s the thing when you’re dating and you’re both parents,” she explained. “Like, how are you ever supposed to get past first base? I have kids in my house. He has kids in his house.”

Despite the complexities, Mellencamp said her approach to relationships has shifted, noting that she’s prioritizing a slower, more intentional pace than in the past.

“I’m taking it slow with him. Normally that hasn’t been my past,” she admitted.

Her new relationship comes as she continues undergoing immunotherapy following a diagnosis of cancer that spread to her brain and lungs. Mellencamp said her partner has been supportive throughout her health journey.

“He’s pretty good about it,” she shared. “He’s a relatively positive and logical person in general.”

Still, it’s his sense of humor that stands out most. “But the thing that I like the most about him,” she added, “is he makes me laugh.”

Mellencamp also candidly reflected on the realities of dating while managing her health, recalling a recent night out that left her physically drained the next day.

“I was like, ‘I actually have enough energy right now,’” she said, before admitting, “Then I woke up this morning and I felt like hell.”

The reality star filed for divorce from Arroyave in November 2024, months before learning that her melanoma had progressed. 

Looking back, she said she wishes she had been more open about her emotional needs during their marriage.

“I just wanted somebody to come lay in bed with me and watch a movie,” she said. “I wanted someone to collapse with me for a little bit, not fix me.”

Despite their split, Mellencamp emphasized there is no lingering resentment, noting that Arroyave was the person she called to take her to the hospital ahead of her diagnosis.

“To this day, I don’t hate Edwin,” she said.

Mellencamp’s cancer journey began in 2022 with a stage 2 melanoma diagnosis. 

After undergoing multiple surgeries, she revealed in 2025 that the disease had metastasized. She continues regular immunotherapy treatments and has since shared that doctors have found “no trace of cancer,” though she remains classified as stage 4.