‘Full House’ star Dave Coulier shares effects of ‘aggressive’ cancer diagnosis: 'I look like a baby bird now'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Dave Coulier, beloved for his iconic role in ‘Full House’, has shared that he has been diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a very aggressive form of cancer. In a recent interview, Coulier, who played Uncle Joey in the show, opened up about his diagnosis, explaining how he discovered the illness and the precautions he's now taking while battling cancer.

Coulier, who has maintained his confidence amid this tough situation, opened up about the emotional impact of his cancer diagnosis, saying he is feeling like a "baby bird" now. He emphasized that he’s not trying to hide anything but hopes to open up about his journey to inspire others facing similar challenges.

Dave Coulier opens up about his cancer diagnosis

In a recent interview on NBC's 'Today' on Wednesday, November 13, Dave Coulier shared that he was diagnosed with cancer in October, nearly five weeks ago.

Coulier explained, "Five weeks ago I was diagnosed with Stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. And in that time, I’ve had three surgeries, I’ve had chemo, I’ve lost a little bit of hair."

Reflecting on his appearance, he humorously added, "I kind of look like a little baby bird now, but it has been a roller-coaster ride for sure."

The actor recalled discovering the illness in October when he noticed a lump the size of a golf ball appears unexpectedly in his groin. "It swelled up immediately. I thought, ‘Wow, I’m either really sick or my body’s really reacting to something,’" he said. 

Concerned, Coulier went to the doctor, who recommended a series of tests, including bloodwork, an EKG, and PET and CT scans. Everything came back normal—until his doctor suggested a biopsy.

After a few days of waiting, Coulier received the news from his doctors. "They said, ‘(My doctors) said, ‘Hey, we wish we had better news, but you have non-Hodgkin lymphoma, B-cell lymphoma." He remembered his shock at the moment. "It was a shock. The first thing I said to them was, ‘Wait a minute — cancer?’"

Despite the devastating diagnosis, Coulier found humor and hope in the situation, saying, "My joke is that in four short weeks, I’ve gone from a Virgo to a Cancer. I’ve tried to retain a sense of reality but also a sense of humor about it."

He also opened up about how his wife Melissa reacted when she learned about his diagnosis. "I was just contemplating, ‘How do I tell her?’ When I told her, of course, she thought I was joking."

But once he reassured her that it was no joke, Melissa took charge, organizing everything from his nutrition to doctor’s appointments and medication. "She’s got everything color-coded. It’s pretty great," he added with appreciation.

Dave Coulier’s road to recovery after cancer diagnosis

While doctors observed Dave Coulier's condition to determine the stage of his cancer and whether it had progressed, the actor focused on coming to terms with his diagnosis.

It was then that he learned he had Stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Although he acknowledged that Stage 3 "doesn't sound great," he found some reassurance when doctors told him the cancer hadn't spread to his bone marrow and that the curability rate was over 90%. "It is very treatable," he shared.

Coulier also discussed his initial experience with chemotherapy, admitting that the thought of it was terrifying. "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. You don’t know how you’re going to feel. Is this going to hit me immediately? Is it going to be devastating? Am I going to walk out of here?"

Surprisingly, Coulier felt better than he expected after his first round of treatment. He is scheduled to undergo six rounds of chemotherapy, spaced 21 days apart, with the expectation that his treatment will be complete by February 2025. 

"It’s been a bit of a roller coaster," he said. "There (are) days where I feel unbelievable. Then there’s other days where … I’m just going to lay down and let this be what it’s going to be." Despite the ups and downs, Coulier remains optimistic. "This is a journey. This is a bit of a battle and you’re going to need to be on your game," he shared.

Coulier also reflected on his family’s experience with cancer, noting that his sister, niece, and mother all battled the disease. "What they went through is 10 times harder than what I’m going through," he said.

"So, if I can be one-tenth as strong as they were, I’m going to be fine." He shared how his family’s strength inspired him. "My mom, my sister, and my niece were laughing until the day they died. That was a real inspiration for me to just remember that there’s a lot of happiness".

He also had an important message for others. "The one thing that just kept presenting itself to me was to tell other people about it. Talk to them about getting something as simple as pre-screening or a breast exam, mammogram, a colonoscopy, or a prostate exam. It’s a really simple thing to do and it can add years to your life," he said.

Dave Coulier's fans express support as he battles cancer

After watching Dave Coulier's interview, where he revealed his stage three cancer diagnosis, many internet users quickly took to social media to share heartfelt messages of support and offer words of comfort to the actor.

One user shared. "Praying for you Dave I had stage 4 cancer no cancer now. God performs miracles every day." 

Another user wrote, "My dad just finished chemo at 82 for B cell ! He’s in remission. Prayers for you." 

One fan remarked, "My heart dropped when I saw this. I grew up watching full house. So so happy this form of cancer seems to be extremely treatable, though. Best wishes for a Speedy recovery, Dave!" 

Another exclaimed, "He has THE BEST ATTITUDE.  So calm and confident.  Hope he recovers!!!" 

One individual wrote, "You got this Dave! My dad had the same cancer and started in the same spot and also stage 3. Six rounds of chemo and the cancer was gone! In remisson for 7 years. 🙏❤️ You can do this!" 

One person commented, "As someone who grew up as a diehard fan of Full House this is so sad to me 😢💔. Prayers for Dave Coulier 🙏🏼." 

Another added, "What a great guy! The healing power of love! Praying for Dave and his family."

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