Beloved Canadian actor and comedian Dave Coulier, famous for playing Uncle Joey on the classic sitcom "Full House," has shared a difficult health update. Just seven months after announcing he was free of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Coulier is now battling a new, separate form of cancer.
A Shocking Second Diagnosis
In an interview with TODAY on Tuesday, the 66-year-old star revealed he is currently undergoing radiation therapy for early-stage oropharyngeal tongue cancer. He received this new diagnosis in October 2024. According to the American Cancer Society, this specific cancer is activated when a person becomes infected with a high-risk strain of the human papillomavirus (HPV).
Despite the shock of a second cancer fight in such a short time, Coulier is focusing on the positive prognosis. "We found it early enough where it’s very treatable," he told TODAY. "It’s got a 90% curability rate. The doctor said the prognosis is good, but we’re going to start radiation immediately."
From One Battle to Another
This new challenge comes on the heels of Coulier's previous victory over lymphoma. About a year ago, the actor publicly announced a Stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis after discovering an enlarged lymph node. Following successful chemotherapy, he joyfully shared in March 2024 that he was cancer-free.
"I’ll tell you this. Today is the first day that I really feel like, 'Wow, I’m feeling pretty darn good. I feel like myself,'" Coulier told Parade magazine at the time. "And it’s today. So I get to celebrate that with you."
Vigilant Monitoring Leads to Discovery
As part of his post-lymphoma care, Coulier continued to receive PET scans every few months. During one of these routine scans, his doctor noticed something unusual at the base of his tongue. This discovery led to further tests and two biopsies, which ultimately confirmed the diagnosis of P16-positive carcinoma, the specific type of oropharyngeal cancer.
The emotional whiplash of the two diagnoses has been significant for the actor. "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," Coulier explained to TODAY. "It is a shock to the system."
Dave Coulier's openness about his consecutive cancer battles highlights the unpredictable nature of the disease and the importance of persistent medical monitoring, even after a successful initial treatment.
