"Early Detection Really Means Everything"
- “Full House” star Dave Coulier, 66, is in remission after battling two cancers—HPV‑related tongue cancer and stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma—within a year.
- He describes chemotherapy as exhausting to battle his oral cancer, but his radiation treatment was an even more intense experience, according to the 90s sitcom star, with significant physical and emotional side effects.
- Coulier has already started 35 radiation treatments, which can cause side effects such as fatigue, taste changes, difficulty swallowing, and thyroid issues.
- Radiation Oncologist Dr. Subhakar Mutyala explains that radiation is “a treatment where you don’t feel the treatment itself. Now, sometimes, you might feel the place where we place the tumor. If we’re placing applicators in the cancer, you might feel that. Or if you’re lying on a table and we’re holding you still, you might feel that. But the actual treatment is just ionizing energy.”
- Coulier’s former “Full House” co-star Danielle Fishel, 44, also had her own run-in with cancer when she was diagnosed with stage 0 breast cancer. She underwent surgery to remove the cancer and received follow-up treatment and now promotes early detection.
- “If you’ve never had an appointment before, get in there,” Fishel says.
- Now speaking out on World Cancer Day, Coulier urges people to prioritize screenings and early detection, saying it “really means everything,” since screening helped him discover his cancer early.
Coulier appeared on “Good Morning America” to reveal that he is now in remission after being diagnosed with tongue cancer in the fall of 2025.
Still, Coulier says radiation for his oral cancer was a “different animal” entirely, he explained on the Today Show.
“[Radiation has] totally different side effects. It can steal parts of your life away from you — psychologically, emotionally, and certainly physically,” he shared.
He completed 35 radiation treatments, which can lead to fatigue, taste changes, swallowing difficulties, and thyroid complications.
Despite everything he’s endured, Coulier says the experience has given him a new sense of purpose.
“I never wanted to be the poster boy for cancer, believe me, but now 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.”
Even in remission, he remains vigilant. “Cancer is always in the rear-view mirror,” he said. “So early detection really means everything.”
Coulier’s former “Full House” co-star Danielle Fishel, 44, also had her own run-in with cancer.
Fishel is embracing life after cancer as she competes on “Dancing With the Stars,” but just a couple of years earlier, in the summer of 2024, her health took center stage.
“I was diagnosed with high-grade DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) with micro-invasion,” Fishel said on the Pod Meets World podcast, which she and co-stars Rider Strong and Will Friedle host while reliving classic episodes.
Fishel said she underwent surgery to remove the cancer and received follow-up treatment.
WATCH: I Have Stage Zero Breast Cancer.
Stage zero breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ are abnormal cells that line the ducts in the breast. A normal breast comprises many ducts carrying milk to the nipple in a lactating woman. This type of breast cancer is not invasive, meaning it has not spread outside the milk duct and cannot invade other parts of the breast.
Some oncologists approach stage zero breast cancer with a watch-and-wait approach, meaning no invasive procedure happens immediately. Other oncologists may opt to perform surgery followed by possible radiation.
SurvivorNet experts say if DCIS is left untreated, it may develop into more advanced breast cancer.
After her diagnosis, Fishel felt increasingly empowered to share her cancer journey.
“What I realized is the more people I talk to, the more people have had their own experiences, either themselves being diagnosed with cancer or a family member who’s been diagnosed with cancer,” Fishel said.
She is grateful her annual mammogram helped her detect the cancer before it had a chance to mature.
Fishel hopes others learning of her cancer journey follow her lead and take charge of their health.
“If it’s time for your appointment, if you’ve never had an appointment before, get in there. If you have to find out that you have cancer, find out when it’s at stage zero, if possible,” Fishel said.
Expert Resources for Patients
- Bispecific Antibodies Deliver One-Two Punch to Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- CAR T-Cell Therapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- What Are the Side Effects of CAR T-Cell Therapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?
- Benefit Of External Beam Radiation: It’s Non-Invasive
- Good News: Acupuncture May Offer Relief for Radiation Dry Mouth
- Living With Cancer: Coping With Hair Loss & the Anxiety it Brings
Coping With Treatment Side Effects that Impact the Mouth
For Coulier, his approach to treating oral cancer differed notably from that of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
“Your tongue starts to feel super wrong, kind of like you put it against a shredder or something,” Dr. Danoosh Amrooei, a breast cancer survivor and dentist at Monaco Dentistry in Apollo Beach, Florida, previously told SurvivorNet.
“Depending on the chemo, your side effects could be better or worse, but I know with the chemo that I underwent that you get really sensitive teeth and gums; even something like brushing your teeth becomes really painful.”
RELATED: Majority of Throat Cancer Diagnoses Caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Dr. Christina Wood, a dentist at Station Dental in Colorado, told SurvivorNet that she recommends that all chemo patients visit the dentist before treatment.
In addition to a regular check-up, individuals should also request a fluoride treatment, said Dr. Wood.
“These provide a high dose of fluoride for your teeth to help increase mineralization of the enamel [strengthen the teeth] and prevent mucositis [painful mouth inflammation],” she explained in a previous interview with SurvivorNet.
She also shared a list of tips for once chemo starts to mitigate pain and keep the mouth clean:
- Try to have a dental exam and teeth cleaning before chemo starts
- Steer clear of mouthwash with alcohol in it; this can be extremely painful for sensitive gums and teeth
- Stay away from spicy and acidic foods, which can exacerbate pain
- Try eating foods that can soothe the mouth, such as dairy items
- Keep different toothpaste options as your taste buds change during chemo, and certain flavors might suddenly become unappealing.
- Steer clear of whitening toothpaste, which has more grit and can further irritate the gums.
If your treatment is making you vomit frequently, try mixing 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda with 1/8 teaspoon of salt and 1 cup of warm water as a mouth rinse; this can help make your mouth less acidic, which can protect the enamel on your teeth.
Coping With Radiotherapy Side Effects
Coulier says the radiotherapy took a toll after 35 rounds of treatment.
While radiation aims to focus on the cancer cells, nearby healthy tissues may also be impacted.
WATCH: What does radiotherapy feel like for the patient?
According to the National Cancer Institute, typical side effects of radiation to the head and neck may include:
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Changes to the skin or sense of taste
- Difficulty swallowing
- Mouth issues
- A less active thyroid gland
“Radiation therapy is actually ionizing energy, where energy goes through your body, essentially causes DNA damage,” Radiation Oncologist Dr. Subhakar Mutyala explained to SurvivorNet.
“It is a treatment where you don’t feel the treatment itself. Now, sometimes, you might feel the place where we place the tumor. If we’re placing applicators in the cancer, you might feel that. Or if you’re lying on a table and we’re holding you still, you might feel that. But the actual treatment is just ionizing energy,” Dr. Mutyala continued.
Reflecting on his earlier battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, he credited early detection for saving his life twice. “Early detection saved my life, not just the first time but the second time as well. So I hope you’re getting your check-ups,” he urged.
Preparing for Radiation Treatment
Patients may be able to prepare for radiation therapy before it begins in earnest.
Dr. Chelsea Pinnix, a radiation oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, says many patients are more afraid of radiation therapy than they need to be.
“Radiation is often a big black box for patients and very scary at first,” she explains. “You read things online or come across older studies that focused on toxicity, and that can heighten the fear.”
But much of that fear, she says, is rooted in outdated information. To illustrate how far the field has come, she compares radiation therapy to the evolution of the cell phone.
“Decades ago, cell phones were huge. Now we have smartphones that can do everything. Radiation therapy has evolved in the same way.” While the way radiation destroys cancer cells hasn’t changed, she notes, “a lot has changed in how precisely we target and deliver treatment.”
Before radiation begins, patients undergo a simulation—a planning session designed to ensure the highest accuracy once treatment starts. No radiation is delivered during this step.
WATCH: Preparing for Radiation Treatment
What Happens During Radiation Simulation
The first task is determining the exact position your body should be in for treatment. The position must give the machine the best access to the treatment area while still being comfortable enough for you to stay completely still for several minutes at a time.
Depending on the treatment site, you may lie on your back, stomach, or side. Specialized cushions and supports help keep your body in the same position for every session.
For head or neck treatments, a custom plastic mask is molded to your face and secured to the table to prevent movement.
“We have a lot of sophisticated devices to help with setup because we can now target down to the millimeter,” Dr. Pinnix says. “Consistency in positioning is crucial with today’s highly focused radiation.”
Once you’re positioned, the team performs a CT scan of the treatment area. These images guide the radiation plan and help pinpoint exactly where the beams should be directed.
Next, the team marks your skin—either with a temporary marker or tiny tattoo dots about the size of a freckle—so the radiation can be delivered to the same precise location each time.
The entire simulation typically takes up to an hour and offers a valuable opportunity to ask questions about the process, what to expect, and how treatment works.
Coulier’s Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Journey
Coulier revealed he had been battling stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma in early November 2024. The actor was no stranger to the impact of a cancer diagnosis. His mom and sisters were all diagnosed with a form of cancer.
“I saw what those women in my family went through, and I thought to myself, ‘If I can be just 1/10th of a percent as strong as they were, then I’m going to be just fine,’” Coulier told US Magazine.
What is Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?
“Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a big category,” Dr. Julie Vose, chief of hematology/oncology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet.
All non-Hodgkin lymphomas begin in white blood cells known as lymphocytes, which are part of your body’s immune system. From there, doctors separate these cancers into types depending on the specific kind of lymphocytes they grow from — B cells or T cells.
WATCH: For treatment, the type of lymphoma you have matters.
Knowing which of these you have can help steer you to the most appropriate treatment.
One way doctors divide up these cancers is based on how fast they’re likely to grow and spread. “The two main classifications I think of in terms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are lymphomas that are more indolent and those that are more aggressive because those are treated very differently,” Dr. Jennifer Crombie, medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, told SurvivorNet.
Most non-Hodgkin lymphomas, about 85%, affect B-cells. These cells produce antibodies and proteins that react to foreign substances like viruses or bacteria in your body. The antibodies attach to another protein on the surface of the invading cells, called an antigen, to target and destroy them.
Coping With Cancer Treatment Side Effects
As noted earlier, Coulier received chemotherapy that spanned several months to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
He lost his hair during treatment – a common chemotherapy side effect.
WATCH: Coping with hair loss during chemo.
Hair loss can take a significant emotional toll on cancer patients, affecting self-esteem and confidence. Experts emphasize the importance of preparing for this change and finding ways to cope during the cancer journey.
“For cancer patients, losing one’s hair can be unbelievably stressful. To start with, the dread of losing one’s hair can lead to some sleepless nights and feelings of anxiety,” says Dr. Samantha Boardman, a New York-based psychiatrist and author.
Hair loss from chemotherapy typically begins three to four weeks after treatment starts and continues throughout the process. This occurs because chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells—including both cancer and hair cells. While regrowth usually begins four to six weeks after treatment ends, patients may notice changes in color and texture when their hair returns.
Finding Support and Coping Strategies
Dr. Boardman encourages cancer patients to seek advice and support from others who have experienced similar journeys.
She suggests talking to people who have been through it, getting their advice, voicing your concerns to your caregiver, and seeing what they can do.
For those worried about losing their hair, options such as wigs, hats, and head wraps can help maintain confidence and comfort throughout treatment.
WATCH: How to fight chemotherapy fatigue.
Chemotherapy can take a serious toll on energy levels, something Dave Coulier experienced firsthand during his treatment. Fatigue became one of the most challenging side effects for him, a feeling familiar to many undergoing cancer therapy.
Dr. Zachary Reese, a medical oncologist at Intermountain Healthcare, describes the pattern of exhaustion many patients face:
“What I typically tell patients is that [chemotherapy] is a bit of a roller coaster ride. You’re going to feel tired about a week into treatment, and that’s when you’ll hit bottom. And then you’ll start to come back up again just in time to do it all over.”
Although fatigue varies for each person, it typically lasts seven to ten days after treatment, depending on the number of chemotherapy cycles completed. However, patients can take steps to manage their energy levels and support their recovery.
Strategies for Coping with Fatigue
- Prioritize a healthy diet – Eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains ensures proper nutrition while maintaining energy.
- Commit to quality sleep – Keeping a consistent sleep schedule supports healing and reduces fatigue.
- Stay active – Though exercise might seem counterintuitive, it can boost energy and improve overall well-being.
Dr. Reese encourages patients to keep moving, even if it means starting small.
“This doesn’t mean that anyone expects chemotherapy patients to run a 5K or a marathon, but getting out and doing 30 minutes of exercise a day can go a long way,” he says.
If 30 minutes feels overwhelming, patients can begin with just 10 minutes, gradually increasing their activity over time. The key is choosing an activity they enjoy—whether it’s walking, swimming, or yoga—to make movement feel less like a task and more like self-care.
While chemotherapy-induced fatigue can be difficult, maintaining a balanced routine can help patients not only manage their energy levels but also navigate the rest of their treatment with greater resilience.
Treating Lymphoma Patients
Dr. Lawrence Piro, the President and CEO of The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute in Los Angeles, a Cedars-Sinai affiliate, previously spoke to SurvivorNet about the different approaches to treating different types of lymphomas.
“There are some lymphomas that are very treatable but not curable,” he explained.
Lymphoma treatment largely depends on the nature of your specific diagnosis. For non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients, their cancer is more likely to spread randomly and be discovered in different groups of lymph nodes in the body. Hodgkin lymphoma cancers, on the other hand, are more likely to grow consistently from one group of lymph nodes directly to another.
WATCH: Understanding R-CHOP treatment.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment depends on the type, stage, and how fast it grows. People with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma can expect to get a chemotherapy combination called R-CHOP, which is a drug cocktail consisting of chemotherapy drugs plus an antibody-drug and a steroid to treat diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
R-CHOP stands for:
- R: Rituximab (Rituxan) is a monoclonal antibody that attaches to a specific protein called CD20, which sits on the surface of B cells. It targets cancerous cells and destroys them.
- C: Cyclophosphamide is a type of chemotherapy drug
- D: Doxorubicin hydrochloride (hydroxydaunomycin) is a type of chemotherapy drug
- V: Vincristine sulfate (Oncovin) is a type of chemotherapy drug
- P: Prednisone is a steroid that lowers inflammation
Patients receiving R-CHOP receive the drug in six cycles that are three weeks apart.
Questions for Your Doctor
If you are dealing with a lymphoma diagnosis, it’s important to ask your doctor a series of questions so you will have an idea of what your next steps will look like. To help you during this difficult time, SurvivorNet has some questions to kickstart your conversation with your physician.
- What type of lymphoma do I have?
- What does my pathology report say about my diagnosis?
- Should I get a second opinion before I explore possible treatment options?
- Based on my diagnosis, what do you anticipate my treatment path?
- What common side effects should I expect when I begin treatment?
- Will I be able to continue working and performing normal daily activities during treatment?
- Where can I get help working with the insurance company regarding treatment costs?
- Who do you recommend I get mental health help from during my treatment?
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