Actor Dave Coulier, best known for playing “Uncle Joey” on the family sitcom Full House, shared that he has Stage III non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), according to People.
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The 65-year-old actor said he first noticed symptoms in October when he had an upper respiratory infection, which resulted in swelling of his lymph nodes. His doctors soon ran several tests and performed a biopsy.
“Three days later, my doctors called me back and they said, ‘We wish we had better news for you, but you have non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and it’s called B cell, and it’s very aggressive,’” he told People.
In the United States, about 80,620 people will be diagnosed with NHL this year, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). NHL can occur at any age, but the risk increases after age 50.
“I’m treating this as a journey, and if I can help someone who’s watching Today get an early screening—a breast exam, a colonoscopy, a prostate exam—go do it because for me, early detection meant everything,” he said on NBC’s Today.
Although there are currently no widely recommended screening tests for NHL, being aware of potential signs and symptoms of lymphoma, such as enlarged lymph nodes, weight loss, fatigue, shortness of breath, fever and chills, chest pain and night sweats, can help lead to early detection.
Coulier’s costar and longtime friend John Stamos showed support by donning a bald cap to match his friend’s newly shaved head, which prompted positive and negative comments from fans—and a clapback from Coulier.
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"It’s our friendship (me and John) and this is how we are handling a very tough time. I’m a comedian and humor is what drives me,” Coulier wrote on Instagram. “John knows how to cheer me up and I laughed out loud when he arrived wearing a bald cap—being a true loving friend and brother.”
On a recent episode of his podcast, Full House Rewind, Coulier said he started chemotherapy and will undergo six rounds of treatment every three weeks. He hopes to finish treatment in February.
“Take great care of yourself because there’s a lot to live for,” he told fans. “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.”
To learn more, click #Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma or read Cancer Health’s Basics on Lymphoma. It reads in part:
What is lymphoma?
Lymphoma occurs when white blood cells of the immune system grow out of control. It can involve B cells, T cells or natural killer cells—three kinds of lymphocytes. There are two main types, Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, each of which has multiple subtypes. Lymphoma can often be put into remission and in many cases can be cured, but untreated, fast-growing lymphoma can be life-threatening.
What are the risk factors for lymphoma?
Risk factors for lymphoma include family history, exposure to radiation and possibly exposure to some drugs and chemicals. People with HIV and those taking immune-suppressing drugs are at higher risk for lymphoma, as are those with certain autoimmune diseases.
Epstein-Barr virus (a virus in the herpes family), human T-cell lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) and human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) can directly cause some types of lymphoma; the risk also rises with chronic infections, like hepatitis C, that cause ongoing immune activation.
How is lymphoma diagnosed?
Early detection and treatment of cancer increases the likelihood of good outcomes. The process of diagnosis starts with a physical exam and health history, including how long symptoms have been present.
A blood test known as a complete blood count takes an inventory of the different types of blood cells. A sample of lymph node tissue (a biopsy) or entire lymph nodes may be removed and examined under a microscope. In some cases, a bone marrow biopsy may be done. Cells are tested for biomarkers and genetic mutations to help determine the type of lymphoma and its potential treatment. Other imaging tests, including X-rays, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) or MRI scans, may be done to see how much the cancer has spread.
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