Dave Coulier, greatest identified for his position within the sitcom “Full Home,” not too long ago sat down with CURE to debate going through most cancers for the second time.
On Dec. 2, the 66-year-old actor introduced on TODAY that he had acquired an early-stage tongue-cancer prognosis often known as oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in October. This prognosis got here simply seven months after saying that he was cancer-free from non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which he had been recognized with in 2024.
“Psychologically, it simply makes me need to struggle. I’m like, OK, these are two cancers which are completely unrelated. I’ve acquired to struggle them each individually,” he defined.
Within the first installment of a multi-part collection, Coulier shared the realities of receiving a second most cancers prognosis, simply months after beating the primary, mentioned his present therapy routine and mirrored on how he’s feeling right now.
CURE: How have you ever been feeling lately, each bodily and emotionally, as you navigate a second most cancers prognosis?
Coulier: I really feel fairly good for a man with most cancers. I’ve my good days and I’ve my unhealthy days. I am at the moment going by radiation, and a few days are actually good, the place I feel I might get out on an ice rink and play ice hockey, and different days I do not really feel like getting away from bed. So, it is hit and miss.
Listening to your physique is very vital proper now, recognizing your limits every day. How has that influenced your every day life throughout therapy?
Completely. That was the hardest factor (to be taught) final yr, once I had non-Hodgkin lymphoma and was going by chemotherapy: simply listening and permitting your self a second of peace, the place your physique simply will get to regroup. That was that was a extremely powerful problem for me, as a result of I am form of a go, go, go particular person, and I do not all the time like stopping once I’m advised to.
Are you able to stroll us by how this second most cancers prognosis unfolded? What had been the primary indicators, and the way did you react if you discovered one thing is perhaps incorrect?
I went in for a routine PET scan to verify on my non-Hodgkin lymphoma prognosis, and one thing flared in my throat. The docs mentioned, “We do not know what it’s. We do not suppose it is most cancers on the outset, however let’s do a biopsy in that space.” So, I had surgical procedure. They put me beneath and used a needle to poke eight totally different locations in my tongue, very deep. It was a really painful surgical procedure to get well from, since I could not swallow for a few weeks, however they did not discover something (irregular) once they went in and took samples of the cells. I assumed, “Oh, OK.” I requested, “What’s it?” They mentioned, “We’re undecided, however we do not suppose it is most cancers.” I mentioned, “OK.”
Then the swelling did not go away as anticipated after that form of surgical procedure. I assumed one thing’s happening, so I went to an ear, nostril and throat oncologist. He mentioned, “I need to get a CT scan and an MRI. Between these three scans and the PET scan, I will have a extremely good image of what is going on on, however I simply need to make sure that.”
So, we did these. The scans got here again and he mentioned, “I feel it is carcinoma.” I mentioned, “OK.” He explains, “We’ll go proper into the bottom of your tongue, the place it attaches to your throat, and we’ll robotically take away about an inch of that prime layer of pores and skin in your tongue.” I mentioned, “That sounds prefer it is perhaps painful.” He mentioned, “It may be painful. I am not going to misinform you, that is going to be a painful surgical procedure to recoup from.” I mentioned, “OK, let’s do it.” We did, and he was proper; it was actually painful.
Earlier than the pores and skin was even healed, he mentioned, “I need to get you into radiation.” That’s what I am at the moment going by: 35 radiation therapies, and right now was quantity 20 out of 35. It has been an actual adjustment. It isn’t as systemic as chemotherapy therapy, nevertheless it nonetheless has its quirky unintended effects.
Radiation can convey difficult unintended effects. Which of them have been probably the most troublesome for you, and the way are you managing them each day?
I’ve fatigue, I can not style something, and my mouth is totally numb. The left facet of my face appears like I’ve a horrible sunburn. In case you’ve had canker sores in your gums, your tongue, or inside your mouth, your lips, I’ve these.
It is form of like a headache that begins in my ear, as a result of it is linked to my throat, the Eustachian tube. So, it is like having a extremely unhealthy earache. It appears like I bit my tongue and it appears like I’ve canker sores all of sudden.
Dealing with a second most cancers so quickly after lymphoma should be emotionally complicated. How has this journey impacted you psychologically?
Psychologically, it simply makes me need to struggle. I’m like, OK, these are two cancers which are completely unrelated. I’ve acquired to struggle them each individually. Nevertheless, psychologically, making an attempt to rise up each morning at 6 a.m. and drive to downtown Detroit to go to the hospital and get radiated, that is an actual psychological problem. That is a battle. That could be a higher battle than the bodily battle, as a result of I need to accomplish that many issues, and I need to really feel sharp mentally, and I need to be artistic. There are some days when I simply cannot, so I’ve to push by.
The bodily I can cope with, I can cope with the ache, I can cope with the stress of this on my physique. I can cope with the fatigue, all that stuff, however the psychological features of this, are highly effective.
Transcript has been edited for readability and conciseness.
Reference
- “Dave Coulier Reveals New Most cancers Prognosis, 7 Months After Beating Lymphoma,” by Caroline Kee. TODAY; Dec. 2, 2025.
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