Dave Coulier is speaking out about his latest diagnosis of tongue cancer, discovered months after he beat on-Hodgkin lymphoma. Though it's been an emotional "nightmare," Coulier says, "I have a lot to live for."

Actor Dave Coulier has been diagnosed with cancer, again.

The "Full House" star, 66, tells USA TODAY that in his first routine checkup after beating non-Hodgkin lymphoma, doctors found tongue cancer in his mouth.

"This is a little bit of a different animal," Coulier says. "It was a big shocker."

Coulier is currently undergoing radiation treatments for the disease, which will continue until Dec. 31. He credits routine scans with saving his life now, twice.

"I am going to enjoy the new year after that final treatment, because I get to wake up on the 1st of January of 2026 and not have to go downtown with my wife and lay on a table and get a radiation treatment," Coulier says. "So it's going to be a very freeing experience to start the new year for sure."

Dave Coulier cancer type: Why he 'didn't want to speak' after tongue cancer diagnosis

The actor initially thought the two cancers were linked, believing chemotherapy to treat the lymphoma compromised his immune system. But doctors explained that one had nothing to do with another.

Coulier was diagnosed with p16 squamous cell carcinoma, which he says could have come from a number of things, including an HPV virus.

In October, Coulier underwent surgery to remove the upper top layer of his tongue, describing the procedure as painful.

"I didn't want speak for the first couple of weeks," he recalls in an interview on Dec. 2. His team of doctors, including one he describes as a "swallow coach," helped his rehabilitation. "Your tendency is just to stop eating, stop swallowing, stop drinking, stop doing anything. So I have to stretch my throat, which is painful, and I have to swallow. But this technology is so advanced now that they have the ability to know how to treat this."

With early detection, his carcinoma has a 90% survival rate.

Dave Coulier reflects on 'nightmare' past 12 months

To call the past year of Coulier's life a rollercoaster might be an understatement. After his initial diagnosis in 2024 with lymphoma, the actor underwent chemotherapy treatments through the beginning of 2025. In March, doctors gave Coulier a clean bill of health. His first exam was six months later, which caught his second cancer diagnosis.

"The last 12 months have been an emotional, psychological, physiological nightmare," Coulier says. "No one should have to battle through this."

Coulier credits his friends and family, specifically his wife Melissa, with getting him through the "psychological battle" of the disease. Coulier also became a grandfather in March when his son Luc and wife Alex welcomed a baby boy.

The actor reminds himself that laughter is a big part of life.

"Seeing his smile on his face, that makes me laugh," Coulier says of his grandson. "He is a shining light in my life. I have a lot to live for. I want to be playing catch with this kid in the backyard."

Coulier doesn't officially have a grandfather nickname yet, but notes that his father was "PopPop" to Luc. The actor also doesn't know if his grandson will grow up to be a "Full House" fan.

"Hopefully my grandson's generation is still a 'Full House' fan, but we'll see," Coulier says. And then I'll teach him 'Cut it out,' 'Have mercy,' 'You got dude' and all of the 'Full House' catch phrases."

Dave Coulier AwearMarket wellness venture inspired by health journey

Coulier traveled to New York in between radiation treatments to promote AwearMarket, a new wellness and holistic marketplace he cofounded, inspired by his initial cancer battle. The market utilizes a team of professionals to vet and highlight products sold by small businesses with clean ingredients. While cancer has spurred Coulier to rethink everything from his toothpaste to his watch band, the actor says his nutrition has been priority No. 1.

"I try to eat things that aren't packaged necessarily," Coulier says, while noting he tries to avoid goods that "have a shelf life of six months." "The last thing I want to do is become preachy to other people, because this is hard and we're still trying to navigate through this. I just want the message to be that if you're looking for options, AwearMarket is one place where you can find some better options."

Coulier's AwearMarket is also partnering with the V Foundation for cancer research. Founded by former college basketball coach Jim Valvano, the nonprofit has funded almost a half a billion dollars in cancer research grants since 1993. AwearMarket customers will have an option to "round up" their purchases, with that amount going to the V Foundation.

He's also keeping a previously scheduled appearance for this weekend's Steel City Con in Pittsburgh, alongside former "Full House" costars John Stamos and Lori Loughlin.

The actor reveals that his motivation to keep moving forward stems from the women in his life: He lost his mother, his sister Sharon and his niece Shannon to cancer, and his sister Karen is currently battling the disease.

"I look at the strength that all of those women have, and that's what keeps me going. Because I think if I have even 10% of the strength that I've seen them have throughout their lives, then I'm going to be OK," he says. "They're with me right now and I'll always have that."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dave Coulier has cancer again. He calls it an emotional 'nightmare'

Reporting by Ralphie Aversa, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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