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Dave Coulier’s recent health struggles have been nothing short of challenging, with the actor navigating through two separate cancer diagnoses in just a little over a year. Known for his role on Full House, Coulier has opened up about the physical and emotional toll of his journey. It all began in late 2024, when he was diagnosed with Stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This diagnosis came after an upper respiratory illness led to rapid lymph node swelling, prompting medical scans that confirmed the blood cancer. After months of chemotherapy, Coulier announced he was cancer-free in early 2025.
‘Full House’ star Dave Coulier had part of his tongue removed to treat his tongue cancer
Yet, his health battles were not over. During routine follow-up imaging later that year, doctors discovered another, unrelated issue—a new cancer at the base of his tongue. Coulier was diagnosed with p16-positive squamous cell carcinoma, a type of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer. This second diagnosis required a painful biopsy that involved removing part of his tongue, followed by 35 rounds of targeted radiation therapy. Fortunately, early detection played a crucial role in his treatment, as physicians highlighted a high cure rate due to catching the cancer early on. Coulier himself has credited early detection with saving his life twice.
In February 2026, Coulier shared his story on Good Morning America, reflecting on what he described as a “rollercoaster ride.” He recounted how the tongue cancer was discovered through a PET scan, which revealed an abnormality in his throat. “That’s painful surgery,” he admitted, referring to the robotic procedure to remove part of his tongue. Although it was a separate cancer from his lymphoma, Coulier emphasized the importance of that PET scan and early detection in saving his life.
Treatment for tongue cancer varies based on several factors, including the tumor’s size, location, stage, and HPV/p16 status. The Mayo Clinic notes that it often involves a combination of surgery, radiation, and sometimes chemotherapy. Additionally, targeted therapies and immunotherapy may also be considered as part of the treatment plan.
Coulier discussed his remission from both cancers while on Good Morning America in February 2026. “It’s been a rollercoaster ride for sure,” he said. The actor then explained how the tongue cancer was discovered following a PET scan. “It revealed that something was in my throat,” he continued, noting that he had robotic surgery to remove part of his tongue. “That’s painful surgery,” Coulier said. “And then it was revealed that I had carcinoma, and totally unrelated. Had I not gone in for that PET scan and gotten early detection, it saved my life.”
Here’s what tongue cancer treatment entails
Treatment for tongue cancer depends on the tumor’s size, location, stage, and HPV/p16 status. However, it often involves a combination of surgery, radiation, and sometimes chemotherapy, according to the Mayo Clinic. Targeted therapies and immunotherapy are also sometimes used.
For early-stage cancers, surgeons may perform a partial glossectomy. This involves removing only the portion of the tongue affected by cancer while preserving as much speech and swallowing function as possible. In more advanced or aggressive cases, a near-total or total glossectomy may be necessary. This is sometimes accompanied by neck dissection to remove lymph nodes where the cancer commonly spreads. Modern reconstructive techniques can rebuild the tongue using tissue from the arm or leg, allowing many patients to regain basic speech and swallowing with intensive therapy.
Radiation therapy is a cornerstone of treatment for tongue and base-of-tongue cancer. This can cause severe but often temporary side effects such as mouth sores, loss of taste, dry mouth, and difficulty eating. Chemotherapy is sometimes added to enhance radiation’s effectiveness, particularly in advanced disease. Research shows that HPV-associated, p16-positive tongue cancers respond especially well to radiation.
Dave Coulier said he feels as if cancer is ‘always in the rearview mirror’
While undergoing tongue surgery was certainly painful for Dave Coulier, he also commented on how radiation treatments affected his life. “It can steal parts of your life away from you,” he said on Good Morning America, “psychologically, emotionally, and certainly physically. And I wasn’t going to allow cancer to do that. I was going to laugh my way through it and keep the people that I love close to me, and that helps.”
Coulier added that he “never wanted to be the poster boy for cancer.” However, after going through it and beating it twice, he wants to help others. “I feel like I can encourage people to get those prostate exams, and mammograms, and just talk to your doctors and get ahead of this. Because, even though I’m in remission, I feel like cancer’s always in the rearview mirror behind me. … So, early detection really means everything.”
The Full House star also mentioned his incredible support system, which included his co-star John Stamos. He noted how the actor consistently made him laugh through treatment. “He wore a bald cap, and when he came around the corner dressed like that, I dropped to the floor laughing,” Coulier noted.