‘Full House’ Star Dave Coulier Announces His Cancer Diagnosis

Full House star Dave Coulier has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The 65-year-old made the announcement during his podcast “Full House Rewind.” He says doctors noticed his lymph nodes were swollen after he had an upper respiratory infection last month. “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.”

Coulier has already begun his chemotherapy treatments and in doing so, has decided to cut his hair as a “preemptive strike.” Other family members of Coulier’s have suffered through the disease and he says they have put together a “very specific plan” for his treatment. His sister, mother and niece all passed away as a result of cancer.

Currently, his older sister is also dealing with her own cancer diagnosis. He says, “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.'” After test results came back negative his chances of survival went up to about 90%. Coulier tells fans to screen for cancers because “early detection can mean all the difference in the world.”

Coulier is maintaining a positive outlook on his diagnosis as he says he has a lot to live for. He will be a first-time grandparent soon. His son Luc and his wife are expecting a baby in March. “I’ve got to teach him how to play hockey. There’s a lot to look forward to.”

The Mayo Clinic says the type of cancer that Coulier has is rare. B-cell lymphoma causes the white blood cells to grow abnormally, causing swelling and inflammation, as he saw in his lymph nodes as well as fever and chest pain. Additionally, unexplained weight loss and fatigue are symptoms of the disease.

Coulier began his career as a stand-up comedian in Detroit where he met co-star Bob Saget. He worked the comedy club circuit and did voice-over work for multiple shows including Scooby and Scrappy-Doo, Muppet Babies, and The Jetsons. He landed the role he’s know best for in 1987 as Uncle Joey, a character he played until the show’s ending 12 years later. In 2016, the show was rebooted as Fuller House and Coulier reprised his role during the 5 season run.

The American Cancer Society urges people at high risk to get tested at the age of 45 for certain cancers. Family history can also play a part in screenings, therefore some cancers require earlier and more often testing. There are ways to potentially prevent cancers from developing including maintaining a healthy weight, avoid alcohol and tobacco, enjoy a diet with many fruits and vegetables, exercise often and know your family history.