18 hours Ago By People
Edwin Arroyave will be there when Teddi Mellencamp needs him the most. On an episode of The Eds podcast released on April 3, Arroyave, 47, opened up about how his wife's brain cancer diagnosis had changed their relationship. In November 2024, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 43, filed for divorce from the entrepreneur.
Then, in February, she revealed she had found several tumors in her brain, and Arroyave has remained by her side. The Skyline Security founder recalled the moment he learned about Mellencamp's diagnosis and revealed that his first thoughts revolved around getting Mellencamp to feel "confident" about her prognosis as well as getting their relationship in a "good place" and ensuring their kids were OK. Related: Teddi Mellencamp Confirms Stage 4 Cancer, Admits ‘I Thought I Had Already Beaten It' — Until Doctors Found 4 More Tumors "People think that's hard, but for me, that's just what I do," he explained.
"Like it's no matter what, I will always love Teddi and she's been a big part of my life. And I like taking care of people, it's just what I do. So it wasn't even like, a question.
" Arroyave added that his response was "reflexive" and his biggest priority was "getting her to a point where she felt confident" and like she wasn't "alone." "I think a big part of dealing with this situation is feeling confident, feeling like you're not alone," he explained. "And I think her friends all stepped up, her family all stepped up.
And it helped me a lot." When it comes to their separation, Arroyave acknowledged that Mellencamp's health struggles have helped them reconnect, but they are currently taking things one day at a time. Related: Teddi Mellencamp Texted Tamra Judge 'I'm on My Deathbed' After Brain Tumor Diagnosis "The first thing is just making sure that we take care of this first and all that other stuff," he said of their relationship.
"We'll see what happens with time. But for right now, it's just more of like, how do we take care of you? And how can we get you back to normal as fast as [possible]? That other stuff will figure itself out." Mellencamp’s cancer reached stage 4 after her melanoma, of which she was first diagnosed in 2022, metastasized to her brain and lungs.
According to articles published in the National Institute of Health , up to 60% of patients with advanced melanoma develop brain metastases during the course of their disease, and “the presence of brain metastases significantly worsens a patient’s prognosis.” This occurs when cancer cells migrate through the blood-brain barrier. Stage 4 cancer is the most advanced phase of the disease, with a five-year survival rate of 35%, per the American Cancer Society .
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. After Mellencamp underwent brain surgery in February, Arroyave showed his appreciation for the support they've received from fans, thanking them for their "continued prayers and well wishes" on his Instagram Stories. "Teddi is beyond grateful for the outpouring of love while she continues to recover," his statement continued.
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