Beating Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- “Full House” star Dave Coulier, 65, is recounting how he was informed he had beaten stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, on the same day his grandson was born.
- The two main types of lymphoma are Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is more common, and you’re more likely to be diagnosed with it after age 55. People usually develop Hodgkin lymphoma at a younger age.
- Reaching milestones during or after a cancer battle matters. Milestones may include things like becoming a grandfather, getting engaged or reaching another birthday, except they may mean even more than they did previously. Hence, taking them all in is important, and celebrating all you’ve overcome is important.
The 65-year-old actor and comedian was blessed with milestone events taking place within 24 hours of each other as he was informed his cancer was gone on the same day his 34-year-old son Luc welcomed a baby boy into their family.
Read More“And so, I mean, it was an amazing day.”
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Recounting how he stayed so positive throughout his cancer journey, Coulier added, “I have a lot of cancer in my family, so I saw what they went through and I thought to myself, ‘If I can have just 10% of their strength, I’ll be able to power through this.
“‘Because they went through hell.'”
He noted that three weeks before the podcast episode was taken, he was informed there was “nothing” … no cancer cells remaining in his body.
Coulier was told he was cancer free after his battle with Stage 3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and a grandfather on March 27, 2024.
Sharing some sweet information about his grandson, Coulier said, “He’s 7 pounds, 6 ounces, and we will see him, I think, in 12 days.
“Because we’re in Michigan and they’re out in Sacramento.”
Expert Resources on non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Children with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Get More Aggressive Treatment, and Have Better Outcomes Than Adults
- Treatment After Relapse: Combatting Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma the Second Time Around
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment: Finding the Right Fit for You
- What Are the Side Effects of CAR T-Cell Therapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?
- You May Have Side Effects Years After Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment: Here’s What to Watch For
- Bispecific Antibodies Deliver One-Two Punch to Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Coulier ultimately went public with his cancer-free news at the end of March, and he was joined with praise by his loved ones and fellow “Full House” alumni, like Candace Cameron Bure, who took to Instagram to exclaim, “DAVE IS CANCER FREE!!!! Join me in celebrating this AMAZING news — let’s shower him with all the love in the world!”
Even John Stamos shared the news on his social media account, explaining in a video clip shared on his page, that Coulier face-timed him to tell him he was cancer free.
Stamos said, “I’m overwhelmed with joy and gratitude to share that my dear friend Dave has beaten cancer. He fought like hell with strength and heart … and true to form- Dave … a whole lot of humor.
“We face-timed constantly during the toughest days, trying to find something, anything to laugh about and somehow Dave always managed to crack a joke and lift the mood. And remind me, and himself, that joy still exists even in the hardest moments.”
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Meanwhile, in a recent interview with Parade, Coulier spoke about the challenges he faced throughout treatment, which he concluded in February, and the good news he received before confirming he had beaten the disease.
He told Parade, “The symptoms were getting worse and worse with each treatment. So neuropathy, which I hadn’t experienced before, started to increase. Nausea started to increase. Dizziness started to increase. They call it chemo brain, where you’re a bit foggy, that started to increase. My days of being able to get up and walk around and be active started to decrease.
“Some days, I just didn’t want to do anything. Though I wanted to move around and go out and, you know, work around the house, I just couldn’t. There was so much cancer-related fatigue that got progressively worse and worse and worse, and I thought, ‘Wow, this is how it’s going to go.’”
However, last month an updated biopsy revealed he had no more signs of cancer and he just need to wait for a followup scan to confirm that he had been hoping for.
Dave Coulier’s Cancer Journey
Coulier, a dad of one who fought cancer with the support of his caregiving wife Melissa Bring, was diagnosed with stage three non-Hodgkin lymphoma in October.
Since starting chemotherapy, he underwent six rounds of chemo every three weeks and completed his treatment in February.
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Speaking exclusively to People about his diagnosis in a recent interview, he explained how he was informed he had cancer following an upper respiratory infection which led to swelling of this lymph nodes.
After the lymph nodes dramatically increased in size, he underwent PET and CT scans, in addition to a biopsy, which led to his diagnosis just three days later.
The type of cancer he was diagnosed with is “very aggressive” and labeled as B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
He explained, “I went from, I got a little bit of a head cold to I have cancer, and it was pretty overwhelming. This has been a really fast roller coaster ride of a journey.”
As for how he was feeling emotionally throughout his cancer journey, Coulier said, “When I first got the news, I was stunned, of course, because I didn’t expect it, and then reality settled in and I found myself remarkably calm with whatever the outcome was going to be.
“I don’t know how to explain it, but there was an inner calm about all of it, and I think that that’s part of what I’ve seen with the women in my family go through. They really instilled that in me and inspired me in a way because they were magnificent going through what they went through, and I just thought, ‘I’m okay with this too.'”
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Coulier,, who coped with cancer by spending time with loved ones and doing things he enjoys, like playing hockey, insisted that others should, “Take great care of yourself, because there’s a lot to live for.
“And if that means talking with your doctors or getting a mammogram or a breast exam or colonoscopy, it can really make a big change in your life.”
Understanding Lymphoma
Dave Coulier has beaten non-Hodgkin lymphoma, one of the two most common types of lymphoma. Lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system that affects infection-fighting cells called lymphocytes. And there are more than 40 different types of lymphoma.
RELATED: Sneaky Lymphoma Symptoms Often Lead to a Late Diagnosis
“Lymphoma is split up into a number of different categories,” Dr. Elise Chong, a medical oncologist at Penn Medicine, previously told SurvivorNet.
“The first distinguishing breakpoint, if you will, is non-Hodgkin lymphoma versus Hodgkin lymphoma,” she added, “and those sound like two different categories. But non-Hodgkin lymphoma comprises the majority of lymphoma, and Hodgkin lymphoma is a single specific type of lymphoma.”
Hodgkin lymphoma has distinctive, giant cells called Reed-Sternberg cells. The presence of these cells, which can be seen under a microscope, will help your doctor determine which of the two lymphoma types you have.
There are a few other important differences between non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma to note. For one thing, non-Hodgkin lymphoma is much more common. And you’re more likely to be diagnosed with it after age 55. People usually develop Hodgkin lymphoma at a younger age.
Age, Race, and Exposures Might All Factor Into Lymphoma Risk
It should be noted that another difference between these two types of lymphoma is that non-Hodgkin lymphoma is more likely to spread in a random fashion and be found in different groups of lymph nodes in the body, while Hodgkin lymphoma is more likely to grow in a uniform way from one group of lymph nodes directly to another.
These two different types of lymphoma behave, spread and respond to treatment differently, so it’s important for you to know which type you have.
As for treating non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which is what Coulier is fighting and comes in a few different subtypes, knowing which one of these you have can help steer you to the most appropriate treatment for you.
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, tells SurvivorNet.
Indolent lymphomas grow slowly and often don’t cause any symptoms, so they may not need immediate treatment. At the opposite end of the spectrum are aggressive lymphomas, which grow and spread quickly and need to be treated right away.
RELATED: Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment: Finding the Right Fit for You
Staying Positive Makes a Difference
Many people battling a health condition such as a chronic disease or cancer often benefit from a positive attitude, like the one Coulier had throughout his cancer fight.
This is something Dr. Zuri Murrell of Cedars-Sinai says helps a cancer patient’s prognosis.
“A positive attitude is really important,” Dr. Murrell told SurvivorNet.
“My patients who thrive, even with stage 4 cancer, from the time that they, about a month after they’re diagnosed, I kind of am pretty good at seeing who is going to be OK. Now, doesn’t that mean I’m good at saying that the cancer won’t grow,” Dr. Murrell says.
WATCH: Focusing on positivity and emotional health.
Other experts SurvivorNet has spoken to recommend that anyone facing cancer make sure they continue to prioritize their overall well-being and do the things that they love, which may include focusing on music like Dion.
Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecological oncologist at Arizona Center for Cancer Care, says people with cancer should be making time to do things that make them happy.
“We know from good studies that emotional health is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better outcomes,” Chase said.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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