Actor and comic Dave Coulier, finest identified for his function within the sitcom “Full Home,” not too long ago sat down with CURE to debate dealing with most cancers for the second time.
In December 2025, Coulier, 66, introduced that he had acquired an early-stage tongue-cancer analysis generally known as oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in October, with this analysis coming seven months after asserting that he was cancer-free from non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which he had been
Coulier sat down for an
Transcript
Are you able to stroll us by means of how this second most cancers analysis unfolded? What had been the primary indicators, and the way did you react whenever you discovered one thing is perhaps fallacious?
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 assume it is most cancers on the outset, however let’s do a biopsy in that space.” So, I had surgical procedure. They put me underneath and used a needle to poke eight totally different locations in my tongue, very deep. It was a really painful surgical procedure to recuperate from, since I could not swallow for a few weeks, however they did not discover something (irregular) after 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 assume 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 am going to have a very good image of what is going on on, however I simply need to be sure.”
So, we did these. The scans got here again and he mentioned, “I believe 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 will 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 deceive 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 present going by means of: 35 radiation therapies, and at present 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 negative effects.
I’ve fatigue, I can not style something, and my mouth is totally numb. The left aspect of my face appears like I’ve a horrible sunburn. When 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 related to my throat, the Eustachian tube. So, it is like having a very dangerous earache. It appears like I bit my tongue and it appears like I’ve canker sores all of sudden.
Transcript has been edited for readability and conciseness.
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