Dave Coulier Says Telling Wife of His Cancer Diagnosis Felt ‘Like I’d Punched Her in the Chest’

Dave Coulier is reflecting on his cancer diagnosis and the moment he broke the news to his wife Melissa Coulier.

The Full House alum, 65, appeared in Blood Health and discussed receiving the update on his health after having a lymph node removed and biopsied.

“My wife called me just before the doctor did and said she’d be home in 20 minutes. Then the phone rang,” he recalled. “My doctor said, ‘We wish we had better news.’ I thought, ‘Uh-oh, this isn’t going to be good.’ They told me I had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma — specifically, an aggressive B-cell strain — and that I needed to start chemotherapy quickly.” 

“It was a lot to digest,” he continued. “You never think the word “cancer” is going to apply to you. I had about 15 minutes to collect myself before my wife walked through the door. When I told her, it was like I’d punched her in the chest. We just held each other and cried.” 

Coulier said that a strange calm came over him at that point and he tried to stay optimistic about his diagnosis.

“I told her, ‘I think there’s a silver lining. Maybe I can help people — encourage them to get early screenings.’ That thought grounded me,” he admitted. “If I was going through this, maybe I could make a difference.”

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Coulier revealed his stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis exclusively to PEOPLE in November 2024. He shared that an upper respiratory infection resulted in swelling of his lymph nodes, which led him to get tested.

"This has been a really fast roller-coaster ride of a journey," he said at the time.

The actor said that since his diagnosis, his wife has been making sure he eats right during his journey with the disease.

"She has put together a whole nutrition plan for me," Coulier told PEOPLE of Melissa, whom he married in July 2014.

In an Instagram post on Nov. 13. Melissa also wrote, in part, about how she's helping her husband amid his diagnosis: "We’re focusing on fueling his body with real whole foods, cutting out refined sugar & processed foods, spending time in nature, and incorporating infrared saunas, breathwork, and massages to support Dave’s strength and comfort."

She added, "Dave’s resilience inspires me every day, and together, we’re doing everything to support his recovery — with plenty of laughter to keep spirits high."

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In January, while speaking to WXYZ, Melissa admitted that her husband’s treatment has since gotten harder.

"He has some really tough days, and as the chemo has been accumulating it gets a little tougher and more difficult," she explained.

However, the wellness instructor said the comedian has kept his spirits up with humor, which helps during the harder days.

"He has such a positive attitude, and you need that in order to really fight it,” she added. “Every morning, if he's feeling up for it, we try to put on a song and do a little dance party with the dogs, because when you do feel good, you have to celebrate that too.”