US actor Dave Coulier, best known for his role as Joey Gladstone in Full House, has announced he has stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The actor is 65.
According to the American Cancer Society, over 80,000 Americans are diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma each year. Also known as B-cell lymphoma, it is a type of cancer that develops in B-lymphocytes.
Talking to PEOPLE, Dave Coulier revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer in October. It was an upper respiratory infection which caused major swelling in his lymph nodes that led to the discovery. As his swelling increased rapidly one area became as big as a golf ball, he said. After a biopsy, PET and CT scans, it was confirmed that he was having stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Two weeks into his diagnosis, the veteran artist began chemotherapy. He shaved his head as a “preemptive strike” after his close circle backed him to take the disease head-on, he added.
Dave Coulier starred in the popular sitcom Full House alongside the late Bob Saget, John Stamos, Lori Loughlin, Candace Cameron Bure, Jodie Sweetin, Andrea Barber and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. The hugely successful show ran for eight seasons between 1987 and 1995.
What is Non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of cancer that forms in the lymph system. The lymph system is part of the immune system which protects the body from infection and disease. According to the US government's National Cancer Institute, non-Hodgkin lymphoma grows and spreads at different rates and can be indolent or aggressive. Indolent lymphoma tends to grow and spread slowly, and has few signs and symptoms. Aggressive lymphoma grows and spreads quickly, and has signs and symptoms that can be severe. The treatments for indolent and aggressive lymphoma are different.
According to the website, the aggressive kind of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which Dave was diagnised with, is called the 'Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.' It is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It grows quickly in the lymph nodes and often the spleen, liver, bone marrow, or other organs are also affected. Signs and symptoms of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma may include fever, drenching night sweats, and weight loss. These are also called B symptoms.
How serious are non-Hodgkin lymphomas?
According to the Cleveland Clinic's website, 3 in 100,000 people worldwide die of some type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Serious non-Hodgkin lymphoma conditions can make the patient's body more vulnerable to life-threatening infections, other kinds of cancer or heart disease. 73% percent of people with these conditions are alive five years after their diagnosis. People diagnosed before the condition spreads live longer than people who are diagnosed after the condition spreads, the report added.
