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Full House Star Dave Coulier Diagnosed With Stage 3 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Full House actor Dave Coulier, 65, has been diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
The actor was diagnosed in October after a respiratory infection caused his lymph nodes to swell, reports PEOPLE.
When the swelling increased rapidly, Coulier's doctor advised him to undergo PET and CT scans and have a biopsy.
"Three days later, my doctors called me back and they said, 'We wish we had better news for you, but you have non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and it's called B cell and it's very aggressive,'" he told PEOPLE.
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a type of cancer that begins in the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system that helps fight germs.
In this type of cancer, white blood cells (lymphocytes) grow abnormally and can lead to the growth of tumors in other parts of the body.
"The most common presentation of it is usually a swollen lymph node that is painless, and soft and rubbery," said Jack Jacoub, MD, medical oncologist and medical director of MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast and Saddleback Medical Centers in Orange County, Calif.
You have lymph nodes throughout the body, but the ones that you can easily feel with your hand are those in the neck, the armpits, and the groin, he said.
Other things can cause lymph nodes to become swollen, such as an infection. But in this case, they return to their normal size when the infection is over.
If a lymph node continues to be large or is painless, or if a lymph node is swollen on only one side of the body, then you should have it checked by a doctor, said Jacoub.
"Symptoms [of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma] can also include things like fevers or sweats that you can't explain or unexplained weight loss," he told Healthline.
According to the American Cancer Society, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is one of the most common cancers in the United States, accounting for about 4% of all cancers.
There are many subtypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Coulier has B cell lymphoma, which he described as "very aggressive," reports PEOPLE. Most cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma arise from B cells.
Coulier revealed that a test of his bone marrow showed that his cancer had not spread.
"At that point, my chances of curable went from something low to 90% range. And so that was a great day," he told PEOPLE.
Treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma depends upon the types of cells involved and how aggressive the lymphoma is.
If the lymphoma appears to be growing slowly and is not causing any signs or symptoms, you might not need immediate treatment. Instead, your doctor will monitor your condition every few months to see if your cancer is progressing.
But there are "more aggressive forms of lymphoma, where if you don't do something, someone could die in a few months," said Jacoub.
For more aggressive lymphomas, or if it is causing signs and symptoms, your doctor may recommend treatment such as:
Coulier told PEOPLE that he started chemotherapy two weeks after his diagnosis, adding that he shaved his head as a "preemptive strike."
In general, "treatment [for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma] is extremely effective and can cure the majority of people," said Jacoub, "even when it's stage four."
Most people diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma don't have obvious factors that increase their risk of developing this type of cancer.
There are some factors that may increase the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, although not everyone who has these risk factors will develop this cancer. These include:
"Sometimes certain families seem to have a higher risk of lymphoma. This is why knowing your family history is important," said Jacoub. "But there is no hereditary disorder that has been identified to say that these people have a higher risk of lymphoma."
You can't eliminate your risk entirely. But you can help catch this and other cancers earlier — when they are easier to treat — by having concerning symptoms checked by a doctor and ensuring you have recommended screenings.
"Take great care of yourself because there's a lot to live for," Coulier told PEOPLE. "And if that means talking with your doctors or getting a mammogram or a breast exam or colonoscopy, it can really make a big change in your life."
Jacoub also recommends living a healthy lifestyle in general, which can reduce the risk of other cancers.
"Limit drinking, stop smoking, lose weight as much as you can, exercise, and eat a plant-based or health-conscious diet," he said.
Full House star Dave Coulier, 65, revealed that he has been diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This type of cancer begins in the lymphatic system, which is part of the body's immune system.
There are several types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Coulier has a type that arises from B cells. He revealed that his cancer is "very aggressive," but a test showed that it had not spread to his bone marrow, which improves his chances of being treated successfully.
Coulier is undergoing chemotherapy for his cancer. Other treatments for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma include radiation therapy, targeted drug therapy, and bone marrow transplant.
Certain factors may increase the risk of developing this type of cancer, such as exposure to insect- and weed-killers. However, many people diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma have no known risk factors.
Dave Coulier Reveals He Has Stage 3 Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: 'I'm Going To Be Strong Throughout This' (Exclusive)
Dave Coulier has been diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The Full House actor, 65, tells PEOPLE exclusively he was diagnosed in October after an upper respiratory infection caused major swelling in his lymph nodes.
As his swelling increased rapidly, with one area growing to the size of a golf ball, he says his doctor advised PET and CT scans as well as a biopsy, which ultimately gave him news that changed his life.
"Three days later, my doctors called me back and they said, 'We wish we had better news for you, but you have non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and it's called B cell and it's very aggressive,'" he recalls.
"I went from, I got a little bit of a head cold to I have cancer, and it was pretty overwhelming," he says. "This has been a really fast roller coaster ride of a journey."
Robert Bruce Photography
With non-Hodgkin lymphoma, white blood cells grow abnormally, causing tumors to grow throughout the body, according to the Mayo Clinic. Swollen lymph nodes are a symptom, as Coulier experienced, as well as chest pain or fever.
B cell lymphoma — the type Coulier has — is "rare," the Mayo Clinic says, and "attacks the skin."
Upon learning of his diagnosis, Coulier says he and his wife Melissa Bring — along with some of his close friends in the medical field — immediately worked together to meet his diagnosis "head-on."
"We all kind of put our heads together and said, 'Okay, where are we going?' And they had a very specific plan for how they were going to treat this," he says, noting that a bright spot in his diagnosis was when his bone marrow test came back negative. "At that point, my chances of curable went from something low to 90% range. And so that was a great day."
Two weeks into his diagnosis, Coulier says he immediately started chemotherapy. He shaved his head as a "preemptive strike," and he opens up about his experience further on his podcast Full House Rewind with Marla Sokoloff.
"I started the podcast wearing a hat, and I said, I've always been a man of many hats, but this hat has special significance because a couple of weeks ago, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma," he says of the debut episode where he opens up about his diagnosis. "That was really a conscious decision of, I'm going to meet this head-on, and I want people to know it's my life. I'm not going to try and hide anything. I would rather talk about it and open the discussion and inspire people."
Dave Coulier on Full House.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Throughout his cancer journey, Coulier says he is choosing to keep a positive outlook, especially for his wife and son Luc, who he reveals is expecting his first child. "I looked at how those words affected [Melissa] and I thought, you know what, I'm going to be strong throughout this, not just for me, but I'm going to be strong for her."
As Coulier goes through this journey, he has been pulling inspiration from family members, many of whom also went through cancer. "I lost my mom to breast cancer. I lost my sister Sharon to breast cancer. She was 36 years old. I lost my niece, Shannon. She was 29 years old," he says, adding that his older sister Karen is also going through cancer alongside him.
"I saw what those women in my family went through, and I thought to myself, 'If I can be just 1/10th of a percent as strong as they were, then I'm going to be just fine," he says.
Amid his treatments, he says that he's been leaning on his sister Karen — and leaning into their shared humor — to keep his spirits up.
"My sister was a registered nurse, and so she's seen this from different optics than I have," he explains. "She's been so supportive and she's funny. So we're making jokes about this. One of my jokes is in four short weeks I've gone from a Virgo to a Cancer. I'm a huge hockey fan. So when they said 'You've got NHL,' I thought, 'I finally made it to the NHL.'"
"When I first got the news, I was stunned, of course, because I didn't expect it, and then reality settled in and I found myself remarkably calm with whatever the outcome was going to be," he says. "I don't know how to explain it, but there was an inner calm about all of it, and I think that that's part of what I've seen with the women in my family go through. They really instilled that in me and inspired me in a way because they were magnificent going through what they went through, and I just thought, 'I'm okay with this too.' I've had an incredible life on a journey with incredible people around me and I'm okay. It does change perspective for sure."
Coulier has already completed the first of six chemo treatments, and he's taking everything day by day.
"I have my good days. I have my bad days," he says. "Some days are nauseous and dizzy, and then there's other days where the steroids kick in, and I feel like I have a ton of energy. I actually skated yesterday with some friends here in Detroit. We just went and skated around and shot pucks, and it was wonderful just to be out there doing something that I love and just trying to stay focused on all the great stuff that I have in my life."
That includes preparing to be a grandpa: Coulier's son Luc, 33, and his wife Alex are expecting a baby boy due in March. "I've got to teach him how to play hockey," he says. "There's a lot to look forward to."
Ultimately, in sharing his own story, Coulier hopes he can inspire others to get tested early.
"Take great care of yourself, because there's a lot to live for," he advises fans. "And if that means talking with your doctors or getting a mammogram or a breast exam or colonoscopy, it can really make a big change in your life."
'Full House' Star Dave Coulier Diagnosed With Cancer: Updates On His Battle With Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
In November 2024, Dave Coulier revealed he was diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The former Full House star was a fan-favorite on the show and fans want to know more about his cancer battle.
What Kind of Cancer Does Dave Coulier Have?Dave was diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma in October 2024. The Fuller House alum's lymph nodes began swelling after he experienced an upper respiratory infection that same month, he told People in an interview published on November 13, 2024. When one lymph node grew to the size of a golf ball, his doctor ordered a biopsy, along with a PET scan and a CT scan.
"Three days later, my doctors called me back and they said, 'We wish we had better news for you, but you have non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and it's called B cell and it's very aggressive,'" Dave told the publication.
What Is Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a "general category" of lymphoma, according to the Mayo Clinic. It's a "a type of cancer that begins in your lymphatic system, which is part of the body's germ-fighting immune system. In non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, white blood cells called lymphocytes grow abnormally and can form growths (tumors) throughout the body."
While the cause for most cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are unknown, the Mayo Clinic states that it's seen most often in people over the age of 60. Plus, recent advances in the study of the disease have "helped improve the prognosis for people with this disease." Dave was 65 when he announced his diagnosis.
Dave Coulier Called His Cancer Diagnosis 'Overwhelming'The former America's Funniest People host was shocked when he learned the news.
"I went from, 'I got a little bit of a head cold to I have cancer,' and it was pretty overwhelming," Dave recalled. "This has been a really fast roller coaster ride of a journey."
However, Dave didn't let the diagnosis stop him in his tracks. Instead, he gathered some friends of his in the medical field, along with his wife, Melissa Bring, so they could come up with a treatment plan.
Dave Coulier's Cancer Updates Amid Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Battle
"We all kind of put our heads together and said, 'OK, where are we going?' And they had a very specific plan for how they were going to treat this," Dave continued.
The voice actor said that he received some good news when his bone marrow test results were negative.
"At that point, my chances of curable went from something low to 90 percent range. And so that was a great day," he revealed.
What Is Dave Coulier Doing for His Cancer Treatment?Dave revealed that he started chemotherapy just two weeks after his diagnosis and opened up about how he planned on handling the changes in his life during the November 13, 2024, episode of his "Full House Rewind" podcast.
"I started the podcast wearing a hat, and I said, I've always been a man of many hats, but this hat has special significance because a couple of weeks ago, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma," Dave told cohost Marla Sokoloff. "That was really a conscious decision of, I'm going to meet this head-on, and I want people to know it's my life. I'm not going to try and hide anything. I would rather talk about it and open the discussion and inspire people."
At the time of publication, everyone's beloved Uncle Joey had completed the first of his six chemotherapy treatments.
"I have my good days. I have my bad days," Dave said. "Some days are nauseous and dizzy, and then there's other days where the steroids kick in, and I feel like I have a ton of energy. I actually skated yesterday with some friends here in Detroit. We just went and skated around and shot pucks, and it was wonderful just to be out there doing something that I love and just trying to stay focused on all the great stuff that I have in my life."
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