Actor Dave Coulier is facing another battle with cancer. The 66-year-old Full House star revealed to USA Today that doctors found tongue cancer during his first routine checkup after recovering from non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The diagnosis came as a shock, especially because he had just completed treatment earlier this year.
Coulier said he first believed the two cancers were connected, assuming chemotherapy for his lymphoma may have weakened his system. However, doctors told him the two illnesses were unrelated. This time, he was diagnosed with p16 squamous cell carcinoma, a form of cancer that can occur for several reasons, including HPV.
Second cancer diagnosis in a year
Coulier described the moment doctors informed him about his new cancer as ‘a big shocker.’ He had finished chemotherapy for lymphoma early in 2025 and was declared cancer-free in March. Six months later, during a routine scan, doctors found cancer on his tongue.
Coulier says regular checkups saved his life twice, and he continues to encourage others to stay consistent with screenings. He is undergoing radiation therapy, which will continue until December 31.
He says he is holding on to the moment when his final treatment ends. “I am going to enjoy the new year after that final treatment, because I get to wake up on the 1st of January 2026 and not have to go downtown with my wife and lay on a table and get a radiation treatment,” Coulier said. “It’s going to be a very freeing experience to start the new year.”
Painful surgery and recovery
Before radiation began, Coulier underwent surgery in October to remove the upper top layer of his tongue. The actor described the procedure and recovery as extremely painful, sharing that he did not want to speak for nearly two weeks.
He said he relied heavily on a medical specialist he called his “swallow coach,” who helped him relearn how to swallow properly and keep his throat active.
Coulier explained that the instinct after such surgery is to avoid eating or drinking because of the pain. His doctors insisted on regular throat exercises to maintain function and avoid long-term complications. He credits modern medical technology and early detection for giving him a strong chance of recovery. His type of carcinoma has a survival rate of around 90 per cent when caught early.
The hardest year of his life
Coulier describes the past year as the hardest of his life. Between chemotherapy in early 2025 and the second diagnosis later in the year, he says the emotional and physical stress has been overwhelming.
“The last 12 months have been an emotional, psychological, physiological nightmare,” Coulier said. “No one should have to battle through this.”
He shared that his wife, Melissa, has been by his side through every appointment and treatment, helping him cope with the mental toll of fighting two cancers back-to-back.
There has also been joy in his life during this challenging period. In March, his son Luc and daughter-in-law Alex welcomed a baby boy, making Coulier a grandfather for the first time. He said he does not yet have a grandfather nickname but noted that his own father was called “PopPop.” He joked that he hopes the next generation will still enjoy “Full House” reruns and that he plans to teach his grandson all the famous catchphrases.
Making lifestyle changes
The actor says this experience has forced him to reevaluate everything in his daily routine, from his diet to basic household products. He has become more conscious about the ingredients in packaged foods and says nutrition has become the top priority in his recovery.
“I try to eat things that aren’t packaged necessarily,” Coulier said. He added that he avoids foods that “have a shelf life of six months,” saying he is trying to make better choices without sounding preachy to others.
He also mentioned looking for cleaner lifestyle options and shared that one of the places he turns to is AwearMarket, which offers alternative products that align with the changes he is trying to make.
Staying active despite treatment
Despite ongoing radiation sessions, Coulier is keeping a previously scheduled appearance at Steel City Con in Pittsburgh. He will be joining his former “Full House” castmates John Stamos and Lori Loughlin. He said the event is something he has been looking forward to and that staying active helps him maintain a positive mindset.
Strength from family
Coulier also shared that his motivation to stay strong comes from the women he has lost to cancer. His mother, his sister Sharon and his niece Shannon all died from the disease. Another sister, Karen, is currently fighting cancer as well.
“I look at the strength that all of those women have, and that’s what keeps me going,” Coulier said. “If I have even 10 per cent of the strength that I’ve seen them have throughout their lives, then I’m going to be ok. They’re with me right now and I’ll always have that.”
As he continues treatment through the end of the year, Coulier says he is focused on healing, spending time with his family and walking into 2026 with a sense of relief, gratitude and hope.
