(Cupventi.com) – Dave Coulier, the actor beloved for his role as Joey Gladstone on the hit sitcom Full House, has made a heart-wrenching announcement: he has been diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The 65-year-old star revealed the news in a recent interview, detailing how the shocking diagnosis came after what seemed to be a routine upper respiratory infection.
“I had a little bit of a head cold, and then I woke up one day, and my lymph nodes were massively swollen,” Coulier shared with People. “Three days later, my doctors called me back and said, ‘We wish we had better news for you, but you have non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and it’s called B-cell, and it’s very aggressive.’” He continued, “I went from, ‘I got a little bit of a head cold’ to ‘I have cancer,’ and it was pretty overwhelming. This has been a really fast roller-coaster ride of a journey.”
The diagnosis, which came in October, caught Coulier by surprise, as he had no idea that something as serious as cancer could be causing what he thought were minor symptoms. According to the American Cancer Society, B-cell lymphoma is one of the most common and aggressive forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, accounting for the majority of cases. Each year, more than 80,000 Americans are diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Coulier recalled his initial reaction to the diagnosis on the Today show, saying, “The first thing I said to them was, ‘Wait a minute — cancer?’ I felt like I got punched in the stomach because it never happens to you. You always hear about it happening to someone else.”
While dealing with the shock of his diagnosis, Coulier also faced the emotional challenge of breaking the news to his wife, Melissa. “I was just contemplating, ‘How do I tell her?’” he said. “When I told her, of course, she thought I was joking.”
Melissa has been a constant source of support throughout Coulier’s treatment journey. She’s taken charge of organizing his life around his medical appointments, nutrition, and medications. “She’s got stuff color-coded,” Coulier said with a smile. “It’s pretty great.”
Just two weeks after receiving his diagnosis, Coulier began chemotherapy. Despite the seriousness of his condition, he has remained in high spirits, choosing to face the battle with humor. He even decided to shave his head as a “preemptive strike” in preparation for the hair loss that often accompanies chemotherapy, as he shared on the Full House Rewind podcast.
“My joke is that in four short weeks, I’ve gone from a Virgo to a Cancer,” Coulier said, maintaining his signature humor even in the face of adversity. He continued, “I’ve tried to retain a sense of reality but also a sense of humor about it.”
Coulier has taken a surprisingly philosophical approach to his diagnosis, telling Today, “I told Melissa, I don’t know why, but I am OK with whatever the news is going to be, no matter how devastating. I can’t explain where that came from. I’ve had an incredible life. I’ve had the most amazing people in my life. This has been an extraordinary journey, and I’m OK if this is the end of the journey.”
The actor’s resilience and optimism have resonated with fans, who remember him fondly from Full House, where he starred alongside the late Bob Saget, John Stamos, Lori Loughlin, Candace Cameron Bure, Jodie Sweetin, Andrea Barber, and the Olsen twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley. The show, which became a cultural touchstone during its eight-season run from 1987 to 1995, remains a fan favorite to this day.
As Coulier continues his battle with cancer, his humor, courage, and sense of gratitude for his life have become an inspiration to many. Despite the uncertainty ahead, Coulier’s positive outlook serves as a reminder of the strength and resilience that can emerge even in the most difficult of times.