Just months after successfully overcoming stage 3 non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Full House actor Dave Coulier announced he has been diagnosed with another devastating illness: p16 squamous carcinoma.
The star shared on Today per PEOPLE, that this type of head and neck cancer was found during a checkup that included a PET scan, underscoring a new health battle for the beloved comedian.
“Totally unrelated to the previous cancer that I had,” he said. “So in October of this year, I went in for a PET scan, just a routine check-up and something flared on the PET scan. It turned out that I have P16 squamous carcinoma at the base of my tongue. So I said to the doctors, I said, ‘Well, did this happen because of the lymphoma?’ And they said, ‘Totally unrelated.’”
Doctors stated that he must undergo 35 rounds of radiation treatment, which he anticipates completing on December 31.
When co-anchor Craig Melvin inquired about the prognosis, Coulier noted that the outlook for p16 squamous carcinoma is very good, with a curability rate exceeding 90 percent. He stressed that early detection was vital to saving his life both times and urged viewers to prioritize regular check-ups, including colonoscopies, breast exams, and prostate exams.
The actor also used his appearance on the morning news program to announce the creation of AwearMarket, a new digital marketplace dedicated to selling toxin-free, holistic products. Coulier was inspired to develop this marketplace after attempting to eliminate toxic products from his life while undergoing chemotherapy for his initial cancer diagnosis.
Coulier first revealed his stage 3 non-Hodgkin Lymphoma diagnosis in November 2024. He explained that he was diagnosed in October 2024 after an upper respiratory infection caused his lymph nodes to swell, prompting further testing.
Dave Coulier, known for his work as a comedian, impressionist, actor, and voice artist, launched his career after leaving the University of Michigan to pursue stand-up in Los Angeles, leading to his first hosting role on the Nickelodeon show Out of Control. His exceptional vocal skills secured him early success in voice acting, most notably as Peter Venkman on The Real Ghostbusters and as Animal and Bunsen on Muppet Babies.
In 1987, Coulier achieved international fame playing the beloved, cartoon-loving comedian Joey Gladstone on the highly successful sitcom Full House, a role he reprised for the Netflix sequel Fuller House (2016-2020), where he also directed episodes. Beyond acting, Coulier hosted America’s Funniest People and continues to tour as a stand-up comic while hosting the rewatch podcast Full House Rewind.
