What to know about Dave Coulier’s blood cancer: ‘Very aggressive’

Dave Coulier, 65, announced connected Tuesday that helium has signifier 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The histrion and comedian, champion known for his relation arsenic Joey Gladstone successful "Full House" from 1987 to 1995, said helium was diagnosed successful October aft experiencing an precocious respiratory corruption caused by large swelling successful his lymph nodes. 

"Three days later, my doctors called maine back, and they said, ‘We privation we had amended quality for you, but you person non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and it's called B cell, and it's precise aggressive,'" helium told People.

'FULL HOUSE' STAR DAVE COULIER DIAGNOSED WITH 'VERY AGGRESSIVE' CANCER

What is non-Hodgkin lymphoma?

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (also known arsenic non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, NHL oregon lymphoma) is simply a blood cancer that originates successful the achromatic humor cells (lymphocytes) that are portion of the body’s immune system, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Dave Coulier, 65, announced connected Tuesday that helium has signifier 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. (Getty Images)

Every year, much than 80,000 Americans are diagnosed with NHL.

"Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are a divers radical of achromatic humor compartment cancers that tin alteration greatly successful presumption of however assertive oregon indolent they are," Dr. Joshua Strauss, an attending hematologist and medical oncologist astatine Advanced Care Oncology and Hematology Associates of the Atlantic Medical Group successful Morristown, New Jersey, told Fox News Digital.

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Patients with assertive types of NHL whitethorn make rapidly increasing masses that they tin feel, oregon they whitethorn acquisition much wide symptoms, specified arsenic fevers, nighttime sweats and unintentional weight loss, noted Strauss, who has not treated Coulier.

An important portion of diagnosis is determining what benignant of lymphoma the diligent has, according to the ACS.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (also known arsenic non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, NHL oregon lymphoma) is simply a humor crab that originates successful the achromatic humor cells (lymphocytes) that are portion of the body’s immune system. (iStock)

"The benignant of lymphoma depends connected what benignant of lymphocyte is affected (B cells oregon T cells), however mature the cells are erstwhile they go cancerous and different factors," the enactment states connected its website.

Stages and treatment

Like different cancers, lymphomas are assigned a stage, from 1 to 4. 

People with stages 1 and 2 person "limited disease," according to Strauss, portion patients with stages 3 and 4 person "advanced disease," wherever the illness has dispersed to aggregate areas of the body. 

Every year, much than 80,000 Americans are diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

"However, arsenic opposed to immoderate different cancers, prognosis successful NHL is much affected by histopathology, which is the peculiar subtype arsenic determined by the quality of the crab nether the microscope," the doc said.

Depending connected the subtype, immoderate patients with signifier 3 illness tin person an "excellent prognosis," Strauss said, with caller advances successful attraction improving outcomes.

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Aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma is typically treated with intravenous chemo-immunotherapy. 

"This is simply a cocktail of assorted chemotherapy drugs combined with an immune attraction that attacks the crab cells portion trying to spare mean cells," Strauss said. 

Aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma is typically treated with intravenous chemo-immunotherapy.  (iStock)

After respective months of treatment, doctors typically usage imaging to find whether immoderate crab remains.

Coulier revealed successful the "Full House Rewind" podcast that helium started chemotherapy 2 weeks aft his diagnosis, and preemptively shaved his head.

Who is astatine top risk?

While anyone tin beryllium diagnosed with NHL, determination are respective known hazard factors.

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"People with autoimmune diseases oregon those who instrumentality medications to suppress the immune strategy whitethorn beryllium astatine higher hazard of processing NHL implicit time," Strauss said. 

"The benignant of lymphoma depends connected what benignant of lymphocyte is affected (B cells oregon T cells), however mature the cells are erstwhile they go cancerous and different factors," according to the American Cancer Society. (iStock)

Certain infections, such arsenic HIV and Epstein-Barr infection, arsenic good arsenic vulnerability to chemicals specified arsenic pesticides, whitethorn summation risk, the doc warned.  

"While NHL tin hap astatine immoderate age, hazard increases arsenic we get older," helium said.

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The crab benignant has besides been associated with smoking and obesity, Strauss said — "so quitting smoking and maintaining a healthy weight whitethorn beryllium protective."

Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed reporting.