Dave Coulier Faces New Battle with Tongue Cancer After Lymphoma

Dave Coulier, the actor renowned for his role on *Full House*, has shared that he is now undergoing treatment for tongue cancer after recently overcoming non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The 66-year-old discussed his diagnosis during an interview on the *Today* show on December 2, 2023, detailing the shock of facing a second cancer diagnosis within a year.

Coulier revealed that he was diagnosed with HPV-related oropharyngeal tongue cancer in October. He explained, “To go through chemotherapy and feel that relief of, ‘Whoa, it’s gone,’ and then to get a test that says, ‘Well now you’ve got another kind of cancer,’ it is a shock to the system.” The diagnosis came as a surprise, as he exhibited no symptoms prior to a follow-up scan, which unexpectedly indicated the presence of cancer.

Reflecting on his health journey, Coulier described the previous year as particularly challenging. He underwent grueling chemotherapy for lymphoma, which he described as “really tough.” Following a recent PET scan, doctors discovered something unusual at the base of his tongue, leading to further testing and the confirmation of his cancer diagnosis. He explained the pain he experienced as persistent and severe, likening it to a tongue bite that never healed.

Coulier emphasized that this new cancer is separate from his earlier lymphoma, stating, “They said it’s totally unrelated to my non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This is a new cancer. I went from, I got a little bit of a head cold to I have cancer, and it was pretty overwhelming.” He described the cancer as “very aggressive” but noted that it had not spread to his bone marrow.

After receiving his diagnosis, Coulier was informed that his chances of a cure had significantly improved, estimating a curable rate of around 90%. He expressed gratitude for the early detection, stating, “The silver lining here is that I had cancer, which helped me detect my other cancer.”

In a show of solidarity, Coulier reached out to his former *Full House* cast members to share the news. He recalled receiving an outpouring of support, with messages of encouragement flooding in. “I didn’t want them to hear it from someone else,” he said. “It really is overwhelming the love that we have for each other.”

Coulier’s current battle is with early-stage P16 carcinoma, known as oropharyngeal tongue cancer. The American Cancer Society explains that P16 is a protein associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV), specifically HPV-16, which is classified as high-risk. He mentioned that his cancer might have developed from an HPV infection that occurred up to thirty years ago. “They said mine activated and turned into a carcinoma,” Coulier explained.

Presently, he is undergoing radiation therapy that will consist of 35 treatments, scheduled five days a week until the end of the year. He described this treatment as “a whole different animal than chemo,” noting that while it is less aggressive, it still has side effects, including nausea and pain on the left side of his face and tongue.

Coulier candidly discussed the emotional toll this experience has taken on him and his family. “It’s emotional. It’s psychologically draining. It’s also a big drain to my wife, Melissa,” he said, expressing concern for how the ordeal has affected her. Despite the difficulties, he maintains a sense of optimism, stating, “I’m cautiously optimistic. I’m going to get on the other side of this.”

In closing, Coulier reflected on the importance of early detection in his case, attributing his current treatment to the follow-up care he received after his lymphoma. “Had I not gone in and listened to my doctors and made sure that I got that PET scan to follow up, we would have never found this carcinoma,” he said. “This could have progressed immensely, and I would be in trouble.”