Dave Coulier puts a positive spin on ‘aggressive’ cancer diagnosis as he shares health update with fans

SAINT CLAIRE, MICHIGAN: Dave Coulier, known for his role in 'Full House', is determined to face his health battle with optimism and humor.

The 65-year-old actor recently shared an update on his treatment for stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a “very aggressive” form of cancer he was diagnosed with in October.

Dave Coulier's inspiring message as he undergoes chemotherapy

Dave Coulier took to Instagram Story on Friday, November 15, to post a photo from his chemotherapy session, where he was seen giving a thumbs-up.

Alongside the picture, he wrote: “Putting a positive spin and sending love to all of you who are battling and going through chemo. And remember to laugh ❤️.”

In the photo, Coulier appeared with an IV line connected to a chemotherapy port in his chest.

The particular device, as explained by the Cleveland Clinic, allows blood draws and medication delivery without repeated needle sticks, and can remain in place for a long time.

Dave Coulier went from 'little bit of a head cold' to cancer

Dave Coulier’s diagnosis came after he noticed swelling in his groin following severe cold.

His tests confirmed the presence of B-cell lymphoma, a rare and aggressive type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

“Three days later, my doctors called me back and they said, ‘We wish we had better news for you, but you have non-Hodgkin lymphoma and it’s called B cell and it’s very aggressive',” Coulier recalled talking to People.

Reflecting on the moment, Coulier said, “I went from, I got a little bit of a head cold to I have cancer, and it was pretty overwhelming. This has been a really fast roller coaster ride of a journey.”

Reflecting on his health journey, he shared, “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.”

A turning point came with a bone marrow test revealing no abnormalities, which he described as a "bright spot" in his diagnosis. “At that point, my chances of curable went from something low to 90% range. And so that was a great day,” he added.

Just two weeks after his diagnosis, Coulier began chemotherapy and decided to shave his head as a “preemptive strike". He opened about his experience on his 'Full House Rewind' podcast.

Dave Coulier opens up about cancer diagnosis on 'Today'

During an interview on the 'Today' show on Wednesday, November 13, Dave Coulier shared how the cancer diagnosis felt surreal, per The New York Post.

“It swelled up immediately,” he said. “I thought, ‘Wow, I’m either really sick, or my body’s really reacting to something.’”

“The first thing I said to them was, ‘Wait a minute — cancer?’” he recalled. “[I was] feeling like I got punched in the stomach because it never happens to you. You always hear about it happening to someone else.”

Coulier began chemotherapy just two weeks after his diagnosis. “You hear chemo, and it scares the daylights out of you,” he said.

“The first round was pretty intense because you don’t know what to expect. Is this going to hit me immediately? Is it going to be devastating? Am I going to walk out of here?”

His treatment plan involves six rounds of chemotherapy every three weeks, with the process expected to conclude in February 2025.

“It’s been a bit of a roller coaster. There (are) days where I feel unbelievable,” he shared, adding, “Then there’s other days where … I’m just going to lay down and let this be what it’s going to be.”

Coulier shared how his wife of 10 years, Melissa Bring Coulier, has been a pillar of support throughout his diagnosis.

He praised her for taking charge of his care, saying she “organized (his) entire life, from nutrition to the doctor’s appointments to the pills".

With a touch of gratitude, he added, “She’s got stuff color-coded. It’s pretty great.”