Dave Coulier Diagnosed with Tongue Cancer After Lymphoma Battle

Dave Coulier, the beloved star of *Full House*, recently disclosed that he has been diagnosed with tongue cancer, just six months after successfully overcoming non-Hodgkin lymphoma. During an interview on December 2, 2023, on the NBC show *Today*, the actor described the news as a “shock to the system.”

Coulier, 66, revealed that he received his new diagnosis of HPV-related oropharyngeal tongue cancer in October, following a routine follow-up scan. “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,” he stated.

The actor had previously announced he was cancer-free after his treatment for Stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which he battled earlier in the year. He had not shown any symptoms leading up to the diagnosis, which was discovered during a routine PET scan. “A couple of months ago, I had a PET scan, and something flared on the scan,” he recalled. “The doctor said, ‘We don’t know what it is, but there’s something at the base of your tongue.’”

Initially, a biopsy did not reveal any cancer cells, leading to a brief sense of relief. “We thought, ‘This is great. We’re still not sure what it is, but there aren’t any cancer cells,’” Coulier explained. However, a subsequent scan in October indicated that the growth had increased in size, prompting further testing.

Upon referral to an ear, nose, and throat oncologist, doctors performed additional imaging and another biopsy, which confirmed the presence of cancerous cells. Coulier was diagnosed with early-stage P16 carcinoma, a type of cancer that originates in the oropharynx. The Canadian Cancer Society describes a cancerous tumor as a group of cells that can invade and damage nearby tissues and potentially spread to other body parts.

P16 is a protein marker for the human papillomavirus (HPV), specifically the high-risk strain known as HPV-16. According to the American Cancer Society, this strain is linked to the development of certain cancers. “They said it’s totally unrelated to my non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This is a new cancer. … I said, ‘Are you kidding me?’” Coulier recalled.

Doctors informed him that the cancer may have originated from an HPV infection that occurred as long as 30 years ago. “A lot of people carry the HPV virus, but they said mine activated and turned into a carcinoma,” he added. Fortunately, Coulier expressed optimism about his prognosis, stating, “We found it early enough where it’s very treatable. … It’s got a 90 per cent curability rate.”

Coulier has already begun radiation therapy, which consists of 35 treatments scheduled Monday through Friday, continuing through the end of the year. He described radiation treatment as “a whole different animal than chemo,” noting that while it feels less aggressive, there are still significant side effects. These include nausea, what he referred to as “radiation brain,” and pain on the left side of his face and tongue from the biopsy.

Despite the challenges of facing two cancer diagnoses in a single year, Coulier maintains a positive outlook. “It’s emotional. It’s psychologically draining. It’s also a big drain to my wife, Melissa, which is the biggest drain on me, seeing how this affects her,” he commented. His doctors are hopeful that the radiation treatment will successfully eliminate the cancer, with the final session scheduled for December 31, 2023.

Reflecting on the experience, Coulier noted the unexpected benefit of his previous cancer treatment. “The silver lining here is that I had cancer, which helped me detect my other cancer. It seems crazy to be making that statement, but it’s true,” he said. “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 … and I could be in a world of hurt.”

Earlier this year, Coulier shared a momentous occasion when he became a grandfather while simultaneously receiving news that he was cancer-free. On April 18, he discussed this life-changing day on the podcast *How Rude, Tanneritos!* hosted by his former co-stars Jodie Sweetin and Andrea Barber.

In March, he had opened up about the difficulties he faced during his treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, revealing that he first noticed symptoms after a respiratory infection that caused swelling in his lymph nodes. Within three days of his diagnosis, he began treatment, which included multiple surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy.

Coulier also addressed a recent incident involving his friend and *Full House* co-star John Stamos, who faced criticism for a photo shared on social media. Coulier clarified that the intention behind the photo was to bring humor into a tough situation. “I think people misunderstood my personal relationship with my buddy John Stamos,” he explained. “We were like, ‘Let’s laugh our way through this because this is a tough journey.’”

As he continues his radiation therapy, Coulier’s resilience and humor serve as an inspiration to many. His journey highlights the importance of early detection and the ongoing challenges faced by cancer patients.