Dave Coulier of 'Full House' shares latest cancer battle

By 
 December 3, 2025

Brace yourselves, patriots—Dave Coulier, the iconic Uncle Joey from "Full House," is tackling a second cancer diagnosis with the kind of tenacity that embodies the American spirit.

In a jaw-dropping twist, Coulier, having just triumphed over Stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma earlier this year, now faces P16 squamous carcinoma at the base of his tongue while undergoing rigorous radiation treatment.

This isn’t just a sequel to a tough story; it’s an entirely new chapter of grit.

Coulier's Initial Battle with Lymphoma

Let’s roll back the tape to Coulier’s first fight, when he was hit with a diagnosis of Stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

For seven brutal months, he slogged through chemotherapy, a trial that would break lesser souls, only to hear the sweet news that no traces of lymphoma remained.

That victory was worth a hearty cheer, but fate had a curveball waiting in the wings.

A New Cancer Strikes Unexpectedly

By October, a follow-up PET scan dropped a bombshell: a separate cancer, P16 squamous carcinoma, had emerged at the base of his tongue.

This cancer, linked to the HPV-16 virus, can lie dormant for decades, with doctors noting it might trace back to an infection from as far as 30 years ago.

While some might spin this into a cultural lecture, let’s keep it real—many carry HPV, but for Coulier, it unfortunately morphed into a dangerous carcinoma.

Radiation Treatments and Unyielding Resolve

Now, Coulier is powering through 35 radiation sessions, a grueling schedule set to conclude by the end of December, showcasing a backbone that doesn’t buckle under pressure.

“It’s been a rollercoaster,” Coulier shared in a Tuesday interview with Today, capturing the wild ride of emotions with stark honesty.

A rollercoaster, sure, but one he’s navigating with steely determination against this HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer.

Early Detection as a Game-Changer

Amid the struggle, Coulier points to early detection as his saving grace, a factor that’s kept him in the fight through both cancer diagnoses.

“The thing that has really saved my life for both cancers is early detection,” he emphasized to Today, a powerful nudge to prioritize health over trendy distractions.

His prognosis for P16 squamous carcinoma remains strong, with a curability rate above 90%, proving that catching these threats early isn’t just smart—it’s essential.

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