Dave Coulier has been diagnosed with a blood malignancy called non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
He made the announcement in an exclusive interview with People and on his podcast, “Full House Rewind,” on Wednesday.
Coulier, 65, reported to have received a diagnosis in October when his lymph nodes became swollen severely because of an upper respiratory illness. According to him, a “golf ball-sized lump” in his groin was a warning that something wasnt right.
It ballooned up immediately, Coulier told Today. I realized that I was either really ill or my body was reacting to something.”
After several imaging tests and blood work, Coulier was diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma following a biopsy of the lump.
According to Coulier, “It’s very aggressive and is known as B cell.” It was a bit overwhelming to transition from “I had a little bit of a head cold” to “I have cancer.” This journey has been an extremely rapid roller coaster.
Coulier was diagnosed in October and began his chemotherapy two weeks later. After six rounds of the cancer therapy, he said, “There are good and bad days, so there’s nothing really that anyone can say.
Sometimes I feel nauseous and dizzy, and sometimes the steroids kick in and I feel like I have a ton of energy,” Coulier told People.
Online searches for information on non-Hodgkin lymphoma, its symptoms, risk factors, and survival rates have been prompted by Coulier’s diagnosis. Here is what oncologists advise you to knows.
Stage 3 Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: What Is It?
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is one kind of blood cancer originating from the lymphatic system; that is, it comes as a part of the body’s immune system, aiding to protect the body from getting diseases and infections.
Coulier has B-cell lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that involves the body’s B lymphocytes, or B cells, which produce antibodies to protect the body against infections. According to the American Cancer Society, B-cell lymphomas are the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
According to David Bond, MD, a hematologist who treats Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma usually means the cancer has affected the lymph nodes both above and below the diaphragm and may have invaded the spleen.
The Malignant Hematology Department at Moffitt Cancer Center’s hematologist, Yumeng Zhang, MD, said in an interview with Health that this stage requires immediate and extensive treatment.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma symptoms
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can cause various symptoms. These include:2. The National Cancer Institute. treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- swelling in the stomach, groin, underarm, or neck lymph nodes
- An illness with no apparent cause
- Nights sweating
- Fatigue
- Unintended weight loss
- Itchy or scaly skin
- Unknow cause of unexplained chest, abdominal, or bone pain
According to Bond, the most common way people are diagnosed with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma is through an enlarged lymph node, which may also be caused by an infection, as was the case with Coulier. “Infections can cause the lymph node to enlarge and become more noticeable,” Bond continued.
Wael Harb, MD, a medical oncologist and hematologist at Orange County, California’s MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast and Saddleback Medical Centers, agrees. “A lump, typically an enlarged lymph node, is the largest symptom we see,” he said. “It’s typically painless.”
It is essential to note the early signs of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Harb added. “It’s important to have an enlarged lymph node evaluated if it doesn’t resolve in a few weeks,” he said.
Causes of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Risk Factors
“We don’t really have a clear cause [for non-Hodgkin lymphoma] in most cases,” Bond said.
However, the following factors predispose people to a non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis:2.
The National Cancer Institute. treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Being white, male, or older
- Having an illness that wearies the immune system
- Having taken immunosuppressive drugs after an organ transplant
Prognosis and Therapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
According to Bond, treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma can vary depending on the location and stage of the cancer. Some options include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted medication therapy, stem cell transplantation, and surgery.3.
“Chemotherapy drugs and often monoclonal antibodies are given to treat aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas,” Bond said. “This is typically for a limited duration—six months or less.
Much remains to be seen, depends on specifics, said Bond on the prognosis. A group of lymphomas called the stage 3 regional lymphoma holds a 74% rate to a patient’s five-year survival whereas the overall five-year rate for non-Hodgkin lymphoma is put at 65%.
“‘The goal of treatment is the cure,” Bond said. “There have been such improvements in survival and rate of cure over the past 15 years.”
He needs to be very open regarding his condition, says Coulier. On his podcast, he announced, “I’m not going to try and hide anything.” “I would rather talk about it, start the conversation and encourage others.
He also wishes that his story might motivate others to focus on their health.
“There’s a lot to live for, so take excellent care of yourself,” Coulier said to People. And it can really make all the difference in your life whether it means talking to your doctors, getting a mammogram, a breast exam, or a colonoscopy.
