S Poddar
Dave Coulier, best known for his role in the old family sitcom Full House, announced on Instagram that he has stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The 65-year-old actor-comedian began to notice that something was off when he caught an upper respiratory infection last October, which caused swelling throughout his lymph nodes. He went to a doctor, had to do PET and CT scans, and even had a biopsy done before he got an official diagnosis.
“Five weeks ago, I was diagnosed with stage three non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,” Coulier said in an interview with NBC’s Today show. “In that time, I’ve had three surgeries, I’ve had chemo, I’ve lost a little bit of hair.” Still, for all that he has been through, Coulier told NBC News that he has a balanced perspective on the whole ordeal. “It’s been an emotional roller coaster,” he explained, “but there are days where I feel unbelievable.”. “Other days, you know, I’m just going to lie down and let this be what it is.”
The outlook for those who develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma has dramatically improved in recent years. Survival rates exceed 80 percent for early detections, thanks to modern treatments and technologies. Even for those diagnosed with the most advanced forms, survival remains above 60 percent, offering a glimmer of hope to those facing this diagnosis.
Coulier, an original cast member of Full House, who appeared in all eight seasons from 1987-1995, also appeared on the TV series, Fuller House, from 2016 through 2020. He well portrayed the comedic, light-hearted Uncle Joey of the two shows, entertaining audiences worldwide.
Summing up his chemotherapy experience, Coulier said it was intimidating. “You think of chemo, and it frightens the daylight out of you,” he admitted. “The first round was pretty intense because you don’t know what to expect. You don’t know how you are going to feel. Is this going to hit me right away? Is it going to be devastating? Am I going to walk out of here?” Coulier words reflect the anxiety many cancer patients face when going into chemotherapy, and the uncertainty of how it will affect them physically and mentally.
Coulier has been candid about his diagnosis on his podcast, Full House Rewind, where he openly discusses his good days and bad days. “Some days are nauseous and dizzy, and then there’s other days where the steroids kick in, and I feel like I have a ton of energy,” he said. Indeed, on one recent high-energy day, Coulier laced up his skates and hit the rinks in Detroit with friends. “It was great just to be out there doing something that I love, and just trying to stay focused on all the great stuff that I have in my life,” he said.
The actor has been very resilient and positive throughout his career. Few are aware of Coulier’s life prior to fame through Uncle Joey on Full House. In a minor role, Coulier was briefly cast for Saturday Night Live in 1986. In a choice made by the producers, however, they determined that he was too reminiscent of one of the cast members, Dana Carvey. He was gone, never to be aired before the season began. One year later, however, Coulier would find his big break as Uncle Joey and bring about his special form of humor to the Tanner family, forever inserting himself in television history.
Besides his work on Full House, Coulier has voiced characters in a number of animated television shows. He is one of the few whose voices some generations have listened to and heard, while he still continues to be one of the warmest symbols in the entertainment industry today.
While certainly his health issues are only tough, Coulier’s willpower and concentration on the positive aspects of his life are inspiring. With the support of fans, friends, and family, he is engaging his journey with remarkable strength, hopeful for brighter days ahead.
