Michigan Native Dave Coulier Reveals Tongue Cancer Diagnosis

Dave Coulier, the beloved comedian and actor from St. Clair Shores, is facing another major health battle, and he’s sharing the journey with fans back home in Michigan. A little over a year after announcing he was cancer-free following treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the “Full House” star revealed on the TODAY show that he’s now undergoing treatment for an unrelated tongue cancer.

How the Second Cancer Was Found

Coulier, 66, says the diagnosis came as a shock. In October, doctors discovered an HPV-related cancer during a routine PET scan. Months earlier, he had completed grueling chemotherapy and believed he was safely on the other side of his first diagnosis. But when doctors noticed a new flare at the base of his tongue, additional imaging and a second biopsy confirmed the cancer.

Treatment, Side Effects, and Outlook

Even with the surprise, Coulier says he’s grateful it was caught early. His treatment plan includes 35 radiation sessions running through the end of December, and while radiation isn’t as aggressive as chemo, he’s dealing with side effects like nausea, 'radiation brain', and pain where tissue was removed during testing. The emotional strain has been real too, especially for his wife, Melissa, but Coulier says he’s staying 'cautiously optimistic'.

One bright spot helping him push forward is his new grandson, Chance, born in March. Coulier says the little one has brought joy and perspective during an incredibly difficult year.

A New Approach to Wellness

His health battles have also changed the way he looks at wellness. While recovering from chemotherapy, he became more aware of the ingredients in everyday products and eventually launched AwearMarket, a new digital marketplace offering toxin-free wellness items. It debuted yesterday on Giving Tuesday (December 2, 2025) in partnership with the V Foundation and Hockey Fights Cancer.