'Full House' Star Dave Coulier Reveals Grandfather News While Navigating Cancer Diagnosis
Dave Coulier is focusing on the little moments that bring him joy as he navigates his stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis.
Dave Coulier is focusing on the little moments that bring him joy as he navigates his stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis.
The actor, beloved for his portrayal of Joey Gladstone on the hit sitcom "Full House," shared that his cancer journey has been “a really fast roller coaster ride,” but through it all, his family has been his biggest source of strength.
When opening up about his diagnosis, Dave Coulier admitted that sharing his diagnosis with his 33-year-old son, Luc, was especially “tough.”
Why Dave Coulier Had A Tough Time Telling His Son About His Cancer Diagnosis
The "Full House" star said that telling Luc was particularly hard because Luc was expecting his first child, a boy, with his wife Alex. This marks Coulier’s first time becoming a grandfather, which adds a mix of emotions to an already difficult moment.
The excitement of becoming a grandparent has brought Coulier a renewed sense of hope and joy, offering a bright spot amidst the challenges he's facing. With his first grandchild expected in March, just a month after he’s set to complete chemotherapy, Coulier reflects on the many things to look forward to in the months ahead.
He’s especially eager to introduce his future grandson to his favorite hobbies, such as hockey and airplanes, as he embraces this new and exciting chapter in his life. “You talk about an apple not falling far from the tree. My son Luc plays hockey three days a week. I used to take him up flying with me when he was a baby, and now he's a pilot for FedEx,” he told People Magazine of his son, whom he shares with ex-wife Jayne Modean.
Dave Coulier Opens Up About His Cancer Diagnosis
Although he was initially “stunned” by his cancer diagnosis, Coulier said he eventually found himself feeling “remarkably calm” about whatever the outcome would be. “I don't know how to explain it, but there was an inner calm about all of it,” he told People.
The 65-year-old actor explained that his diagnosis followed an upper respiratory infection that caused swelling in his lymph nodes. Concerned about the swelling, his doctor ordered a series of tests, including PET and CT scans, as well as a biopsy. These tests ultimately confirmed that he had stage 3 cancer.
“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,’” he recalled. “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.”
Dave Coulier Describes How His First Round Of Chemo Went
Upon finding out that his cancer was Stage 3 — meaning it had not spread beyond the lymphatic system — Coulier began chemotherapy without delay. He also had a port surgically implanted to allow direct delivery of medication into his body.
In total, Coulier said he has undergone three surgeries since his diagnosis five weeks ago and has already begun chemotherapy.
“You hear chemo, and it scares the daylights out of you,” he said in an interview with NBC News’ "Today" show before describing the first round as "pretty intense" since "you don't know what to expect" or "how you're going to feel."
The actor is set to undergo six rounds of chemotherapy, with each session occurring every 21 days. He is expected to finish his treatment by February.
Dave Coulier's Family Has Experience With Cancer
He later noted that his own family’s experiences with cancer, including those of his late mother, sister, and niece, inspired him to stay strong throughout his diagnosis.
“They really instilled that in me and inspired me in a way because they were magnificent going through what they went through, and I just thought, ‘I'm okay with this too. I've had an incredible life on a journey with incredible people around me, and I'm okay.’ It does change perspective for sure. All of the cliches start like, ‘Don't sweat the small stuff,’ and, ‘Glass half full,’ really kind of percolate to the top and shape who you really are.”
Dave Coulier Says His Cancer Is 'Very Treatable'
Stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) occurs when cancer is found in lymph nodes on both sides of the diaphragm, or in lymph nodes above the diaphragm as well as the spleen.
Since the cancer has not spread, Coulier noted that the curability rate is over 90%, adding, “It’s very treatable.”
