Dave Coulier was diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The “Full House” actor told PEOPLE in October that he was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection that caused swollen lymph nodes. It was normal for his armpits and neck to swell when he was sick, but when he noticed that other areas were swollen, he became worried.
He told TODAY that he was shocked to find a “golf ball-sized lump” in his groin “within a week of getting sick.”
He went to the doctor and had blood tests, an electrocardiogram, a PET scan, a CT scan, and a biopsy.
“Three days later, the doctor called me back and said, ‘I wish I had better news, but you have non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and it’s called B-cell lymphoma, and it’s very aggressive.’ ” he told PEOPLE.
Actor Dave Coulier poses in the press line for the Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget on August 3, 2008 in Burbank, California (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)
“Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is one of the most common cancers in the United States, accounting for approximately 4% of all cancers. (NHL) is made up of cells called lymphocytes that are part of the body’s immune system. cancer that begins in cells,” says the American Cancer Society. “B-cell lymphomas account for the majority (approximately 85%) of non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) in the United States. These types of lymphomas begin with early B lymphocytes (B cells).”
Stage 3 means the lymphoma is confined within the lymph system.
Ms Courier said the transition from “a little cold” to being diagnosed with cancer was “pretty difficult”.
“It’s been a really fast roller coaster ride.”
Despite the seriousness of his diagnosis, the comedian hasn’t lost his humor.
“My joke is that in four short weeks, I went from a Virgo to a Cancer,” he told TODAY. “We’ve tried to maintain a sense of realism as well as a sense of humor.”
Meanwhile, Courier, his wife Melissa Bring, and their “close friends in the medical field” have been working together to confront this “head on.”
“We all put our heads together and said, ‘Okay, where do we go from here?'” And they had a very specific plan on how to treat this. “The bright spot in his diagnosis came when a bone marrow test came back negative,” he said, noting that the bright spot in his diagnosis came when a bone marrow test came back negative. “At that point, my chance of recovery went from low to in the 90 percent range. And it was a great day.”
Two weeks after his diagnosis, he started chemotherapy and had his head shaved. He later opened up about his health journey on the Full House Rewind podcast with Mara Sokoloff.
“I started the podcast wearing hats, so I said, ‘I’ve always been a person who wears a lot of hats, but this hat has a special meaning. Because a few weeks ago I was a non-Hodgkin “Because I was diagnosed with lymphoma,” he explained. That episode. “It was really a conscious decision. I’m going to face this issue head on and I want people to know that this is my life. I’m not trying to hide anything. wants to talk about it, open up the discussion and inspire people.”
Sadly, cancer discussions are nothing new to The Courier.
“I lost my sister Sharon to breast cancer at 36 years old. I lost my niece Shannon to breast cancer at 29 years old,” he told the magazine. “I lost my mom and my sister Karen got cancer. So over the years, I’ve seen what the women in my family have been through, and it’s not just a wake-up call. It was also a learning process.”
During this journey, Courier hopes to raise awareness and encourage others to do things “as simple as pre-screening” such as “breast exams, mammograms, colonoscopies, prostate exams”. I’m thinking.
“It’s really simple, but it can add years to your life.”
In the meantime, he is choosing to stay positive as his first grandchild is due next year. His son Luc and his wife Alex are expecting a baby boy in March.
“I have to teach him how to play hockey,” he told PEOPLE. “There’s a lot to look forward to.”
The Courier ran for eight seasons and starred as Joey on ABC’s hit comedy Full House, along with Bob Saget, John Stamos, Candace Cameron Bure, Jodie Sweetin, Mary-Kate, Ashley Olsen, and Lori Loughlin. Famous for playing Gladstone.
The Courier was a mainstay of the series from its inception in 1987 until its cancellation in 1995. Twenty years later, he reprized the role in the “Full House” spinoff “Fuller House,” which premiered in 2016. The show lasted five series. It will end in 2020.
