Dave Coulier Revealed Cancer Diagnosis to Full House Cast in Group Text: ‘Didn’t Want Them to Hear It from Someone Else’

Despite being diagnosed with cancer, Dave Coulier has the support of his Full House family. The 65-year-old actor says in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE that he discovered he had stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma in October after a severe enlargement of his lymph nodes was brought on by an upper respiratory illness. He underwent additional testing, and the results revealed some startling information that has subsequently altered his life. “It was quite overwhelming to go from having a slight cold to being diagnosed with cancer,” he adds. “This journey has been an extremely fast roller coaster.”

Throughout his battle with illness, Coulier has had the help of his wife Melissa Bring and son Luc, but he has also been depending on his Full House costars.  John Stamos, Candace Cameron Bure, Andrea Barber, Jodie Sweetin, Lori Loughlin, Scott Weinger, and series creator Jeff Franklin were among the cast members to whom Coulier initially broke the news in a group mail, he tells PEOPLE. “I sent a text message out because I didn’t want them to hear it from someone else,” he recalls, adding that everyone’s response “was immediate.”

“I will be there,” was the only thing that came out. What can we do? You just specify the time, and I’m sure Mel has you covered. The affection we share for one another is quite overpowering. It’s quite amazing that we have supported one another for so many years. On September 18, 2017, in New York City, Andrea Barber, Jodi Sweetin, Dave Coulier, Candice Cameron Bure, and Bob Saget visit the Build Series to talk about the upcoming season of “Fuller House” at Build Studio.

The ensemble has experienced a lot of grief in recent years, particularly with the passing of the show’s patriarch Bob Saget in January 2022, but Coulier says those difficult moments have only increased their appreciation for their time together. He asserts, “I believe we value our lives, not just our lives together.” “We cherish the enjoyable moments and pleasant experiences we’ve been able to share. And that, in my opinion, has a favorable effect on other individuals. There aren’t many drawbacks to being around that crowd. It’s really simply joy and optimism, and we are incredibly grateful for our lives and the people in them.

He also mentions that Stamos, 61, is paying him a visit as he undergoes chemotherapy. I’m eager for him to come visit because I get chemotherapy on November 15. John will be here on November 16th, he says, adding that Stamos is leaving Coulier to decide the schedule for his visit. “I’ll sit by your side if you want to just sleep, or if you want to talk or listen to music, whatever you want,” he says. And I simply think, “Wow.” It is comparable to a brother. That is genuinely a brother. ‘Some Like It Hot’ is screened by Cinespia at Hollywood Forever on August 19, 2017, in Hollywood, California, and John Stamos and Dave Coulier attend.

On his Full House Rewind podcast, Coulier goes into additional detail about his diagnosis, describing it as a form of “video comfort food” as he watches his favorite episode through to the end for the first time. He acknowledges, “I never watched Full House,” but he says that every episode has made him like the program even more. “I get it. I understand. I can see why it has become so popular across generations and why children and families adore it. It has a lot of fantastic features for families and children.

One thing he has learned from the series, despite all the important lessons it imparts, is the value of treating others with “love and respect” and always giving it your all. “It was really intense doing 192 episodes, so I didn’t understand that much when we were actually doing the show, but I get it now,” he continues. Having a son and experiencing family moments and child-rearing allows me to be much more objective. I just think it all makes sense. I’m thinking, “Oh, I see what was in the Kool-Aid now.” I understand.