Dave Coulier is maintaining a positive outlook as he fights a "very aggressive" form of cancer. The 65-year-old "Full House" star provided an update on his cancer treatment on Friday, sharing a photo on his Instagram story where he gives a thumbs-up during a chemotherapy session. "Putting a positive spin and sending love to all of you who are battling and going through chemo," Coulier wrote alongside the image. "And remember to laugh ❤️," he added.
In the photo, Coulier had an IV line connected to a chemotherapy port in his upper chest, which can stay in place for weeks, months, or even years. This setup allows for blood draws and medication administration without needing a new needle each time, according to The Cleveland Clinic. Just two days prior, Coulier disclosed that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma in October. The comedian discovered his diagnosis after experiencing a severe cold and noticing swelling in his groin area, which led him to consult his doctor for tests.
"Three days later, my doctors called me back and they 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,'" Coulier told People. "I went from having a slight head cold to having cancer, and it was quite overwhelming," he shared. "This has been a really fast and intense journey." According to the Mayo Clinic, patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma have abnormal white blood cell growth that leads to tumors throughout the body. Coulier’s type of cancer, B cell lymphoma, is rare.
The actor further discussed his cancer diagnosis on the "Today" show on Wednesday. "The first thing I said to them was, 'Wait a minute — cancer?'" he told "Today" host Hoda Kotb. "[I was] feeling like I got punched in the stomach because it never happens to you. You always hear about it happening to someone else." Coulier revealed he started chemotherapy two weeks after his diagnosis and shaved his head as a precautionary measure. "You hear chemo, and it scares you," he said. "The first round was pretty intense because you don’t know what to expect. You don’t know how you’re going to feel. Is this going to hit me immediately? Is it going to be devastating? Am I going to walk out of here?"
Coulier disclosed that he will undergo six rounds of chemotherapy every three weeks and expects to complete his treatment in February. Speaking with People, Coulier shared that his bone marrow test last week came back negative. The results mean that "at that point, my chances of being cured went from something low to 90% range," he explained. "And so that was a great day."
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