“Listen to your body”: Full House star Dave Coulier shares how he survived two cancer diagnoses in 18 months

Dave Coulier, a beloved star of Full House, has finally entered complete remission after battling two completely separate cancer diagnoses over the last two years. He has always been open about his health struggles in the past, but two different cancers in 18 months sounds like an absolute nightmare. According to Fox News, Coulier credits early detection with saving his life, insisting we all need to pay closer attention to subtle changes in our bodies.

He is certainly glad he didn’t ignore the early signs, thanks to his wife. He said, “Listen to your body. Your body will tell you things.” Coulier admitted he might have thought it was just a cold.” He felt generally unwell, lacking energy, and then found a lump in his groin area while showering one morning. That was the moment that made his wife, Melissa, insist ‘We’re calling now, and making that appointment.” As a result, they “caught it early.”

Coulier was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but the second, unrelated diagnosis was discovered during a routine checkup and PET scan for the first. Initially, Coulier thought the enlarged tumor was just a flare-up of his lymphoma. It turned out to be an entirely unrelated HPV-related oropharyngeal tongue cancer. Coulier explained that when you are struck with two different cancers in a year-and-a-half period, “it is a double whammy.”

I guess it’s time to go book that yearly check-up

He had to endure 35 grueling rounds of radiation and complex robotic surgery on his tongue to fight the second cancer. Now that he’s in remission, he feels immense relief. He says that attacks you physically, psychologically, and emotionally all at once. Coulier was determined, though, stating, “I wasn’t going to allow cancer to steal those things from me.” 

For Coulier, the emotional toll also involved confronting a lack of vulnerability. He often felt pressure to remain positive and hated the thought of being a burden on his wife, Melissa, especially when he lost the ability to get out of bed alone. Coulier noted that men often see themselves as providers and pillars of strength, making it tough to admit weakness. 

Now, Coulier is channeling his battle into helping others, partnering with groups like The V Foundation for Cancer Research and the NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer initiative. Coulier hopes his story can inspire people to get those routine tests, like colonoscopies and mammograms. “Believe me, I never wanted to be the poster boy for cancer, but I’m willing to carry the flag for everyone and encourage others that this is a disease none of us should have to go through.” 

His experience has also inspired him to open his own business, AWEAR Market, based on research about why his own lymphatic system had crashed. He realized he was surrounded by toxic substances like PFAs, BPAs, and microplastics in everyday items, prompting him to become what he calls a “professional label reader.”