John Stamos walked into the room wearing a bald cap, and Dave Coulier lost it. He laughed until it hurt.
That’s basically the essence of their forty-year friendship. It’s not just "sitcom stars staying in touch" for the cameras. It is a deep, weird, brotherly bond that has survived the heights of Full House fame and the crushing lows of the last year.
Honestly, 2025 was a nightmare for Dave Coulier. Just when he thought he was in the clear after battling Stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, he got hit with a second, completely unrelated diagnosis: tongue cancer. It’s the kind of news that would break most people. But if you know Dave, or his "brother" John, you know they don’t do "somber" very well. They do humor. Even when it’s dark. Even when the internet is yelling at them for it.
The Bald Cap "Controversy" That Wasn't
Back in late 2024, John Stamos posted a photo of himself wearing a bald cap while helping Dave shave his head. The internet, as it often does, decided to be offended. People called it a "photo op." They said it was insensitive because John could "take the cap off" while Dave couldn't.
Dave wasn't having it.
He jumped on Instagram to tell everyone to settle down. He called John a "true loving friend" and explained that humor is his primary fuel. He’s a comedian. If he can’t laugh at the absurdity of losing his hair, what’s left? Stamos wasn't trying to pretend he had cancer; he was trying to make his best friend giggle during a week of aggressive chemotherapy.
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It worked.
A Year of "Physiological Nightmares"
Let’s get into the specifics because what Dave has been through is heavy. In November 2024, he went to the doctor for a simple head cold. Within days, he was told he had Stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It was aggressive. He went through six rounds of chemo, finished in February 2025, and by March, he was declared cancer-free.
He was a grandfather now. His son Luc and daughter-in-law Alex had a baby boy on March 27, 2025. Life was supposed to be getting back to normal.
Then came October 2025.
During a routine PET scan—the kind you get when you’re "in the clear"—something flared. It wasn't the lymphoma returning. It was p16 squamous carcinoma at the base of his tongue. Total shock.
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- The Surgery: In October 2025, doctors removed the top layer of his tongue.
- The Recovery: He couldn't speak for two weeks. He had to work with a "swallow coach" to relearn how to eat without choking.
- The Treatment: 35 rounds of radiation, finishing right on December 31, 2025.
Dave has called the last 12 months a "psychological and physiological nightmare." He’s lost his mother, his sister, and his niece to cancer over the years. He knows the stakes. But he spent New Year’s Day 2026 celebrating the fact that he didn’t have to go back to a radiation table.
Why John Stamos and the Cast Stayed So Close
You've seen the headlines about the Full House "family," but it’s more than PR. When Dave sent out that first text about his diagnosis, the response was immediate. Stamos, Candace Cameron Bure, Andrea Barber—they weren't just sending "prayers." They were showing up.
John, specifically, has been Dave's wingman. He’s been through his own "darker years," which he and Dave actually discussed on Dave's Full House Rewind podcast. They’ve seen each other through addiction, divorce, and the sudden, heartbreaking loss of Bob Saget in 2022.
When Bob died, the glue of that group changed. John and Dave became even more protective of one another. That’s why the bald cap thing was so personal. It was a private joke between two guys who have been through hell and back, shared with the world to show that cancer doesn't have to steal your personality.
What’s Next for Dave Coulier?
Dave is entering 2026 with a massive focus on what he calls "early detection." He’s been very vocal about the fact that if he hadn't gone in for that "routine" PET scan for his lymphoma, they never would have caught the tongue cancer until it was much worse.
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He’s launched a venture called Awear Market, focusing on natural products and cleaner living. He’s also trying to eat things that don't have a "six-month shelf life." Basically, he’s done with the processed stuff.
His prognosis for the tongue cancer is actually quite good—around a 90% curability rate because they caught it so early. He’s plan is to spend 2026 being a "PopPop" to his grandson and teaching him all those iconic Full House catchphrases.
Actionable Insights for Your Own Health
If there’s one thing Dave wants you to take away from his "roller coaster" year, it’s this:
- Check the Lumps: Dave’s first sign of lymphoma was a golf-ball-sized lump in his groin that appeared after a respiratory infection. Don't ignore "weird" swelling.
- The "Routine" Scan Matters: Even if you feel great, don't skip the follow-ups. That PET scan saved his life twice.
- Screenings Save Lives: Whether it’s a mammogram, a colonoscopy, or a prostate exam, get them done. Dave’s advocacy isn't just talk; it's a literal survival guide based on his own bloodwork.
- Find Your "Bald Cap" People: Surround yourself with friends who will make you laugh when things are bleak. You need a John Stamos in your corner.
Dave is officially in his "freeing experience" era. No more radiation tables. No more chemo chairs for now. Just family, comedy, and a very resilient tongue.