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Teddi Mellencamp Says Doctor Denied GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs During Cancer Treatment

The exchange spotlights friction over prescribing popular weight-loss drugs during complex cancer care.

Overview

  • Mellencamp, speaking on her Two Ts in a Pod episode on Wednesday, April 22, said her doctor refused her request for GLP-1 medication after she gained weight from steroid treatment.
  • She said she sought the drugs to counter steroid-related weight gain, referring to GLP-1s that are prescribed for diabetes and weight loss because they lower blood sugar and curb appetite.
  • Guest cohost Dolores Catania urged her to find the drugs elsewhere and said she planned to start a GLP-1 herself the next day.
  • Mellencamp added that she could get the medication through friends, pointing to social pressure and informal routes for accessing in-demand weight-loss drugs.
  • Context for her care includes an October 2025 scan showing no detectable cancer, continued immunotherapy and monitoring, and her recent comments that medications have taken a toll on her body and mood.