• Actor Dave Coulier, known for playing Uncle Joey on Full House, announced he has stage 3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
• Non-Hodkin’s lymphoma is a type of cancer that begins in the lymphatic system, part of the body’s immune system.
• It can cause symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin, chest pain, or fever.
• Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or targeted drug therapy.

The actor was diagnosed in October after a respiratory infection caused his lymph nodes to swell, reports PEOPLE.

When the swelling increased rapidly, Coulier’s doctor advised him to undergo PET and CT scans and have a biopsy.

“Three days later, my doctors called me back and they said, ‘We wish we had better news for you, but you have non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and it’s called B cell and it’s very aggressive,’” he told PEOPLE.

What is non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is a type of cancer that begins in the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system that helps fight germs.

In this type of cancer, white blood cells (lymphocytes) grow abnormally and can lead to the growth of tumors in other parts of the body.

“The most common presentation of it is usually a swollen lymph node that is painless, and soft and rubbery,” said Jack Jacoub, MD, medical oncologist and medical director of MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast and Saddleback Medical Centers in Orange County, Calif.

You have lymph nodes throughout the body, but the ones that you can easily feel with your hand are those in the neck, the armpits, and the groin, he said.

Other things can cause lymph nodes to become swollen, such as an infection. But in this case, they return to their normal size when the infection is over.

If a lymph node continues to be large or is painless, or if a lymph node is swollen on only one side of the body, then you should have it checked by a doctor, said Jacoub.

“Symptoms [of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma] can also include things like fevers or sweats that you can’t explain or unexplained weight loss,” he told Healthline.

According to the American Cancer Society, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is one of the most common cancers in the United States, accounting for about 4% of all cancers.

There are many subtypes of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Coulier has B cell lymphoma, which he described as “very aggressive,” reports PEOPLE. Most cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma arise from B cells.

Coulier revealed that a test of his bone marrow showed that his cancer had not spread.

“At that point, my chances of curable went from something low to 90% range. And so that was a great day,” he told PEOPLE.

How non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can be treated

Treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma depends upon the types of cells involved and how aggressive the lymphoma is.

If the lymphoma appears to be growing slowly and is not causing any signs or symptoms, you might not need immediate treatment. Instead, your doctor will monitor your condition every few months to see if your cancer is progressing.

But there are “more aggressive forms of lymphoma, where if you don’t do something, someone could die in a few months,” said Jacoub.

For more aggressive lymphomas, or if it is causing signs and symptoms, your doctor may recommend treatment such as:

• chemotherapy
• radiation therapy
• targeted drug therapy
• engineering your own immune cells to fight the lymphoma, known as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy
• bone marrow transplant
• immunotherapy

Coulier told PEOPLE that he started chemotherapy two weeks after his diagnosis, adding that he shaved his head as a “preemptive strike.”

In general, “treatment [for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma] is extremely effective and can cure the majority of people,” said Jacoub, “even when it’s stage four.”

How to reduce your cancer risk

Most people diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma don’t have obvious factors that increase their risk of developing this type of cancer.

There are some factors that may increase the risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, although not everyone who has these risk factors will develop this cancer. These include:

• Medications that suppress the immune system, such as those taken after an organ transplant.
• Infections with certain bacteria and viruses, such as HIV, the Epstein-Barr virus, or the ulcer-causing Helicobacter pylori.
• Certain chemicals, such as insect- and weed-killers.
• Being older than 60 years.

“Sometimes certain families seem to have a higher risk of lymphoma. This is why knowing your family history is important,” said Jacoub. “But there is no hereditary disorder that has been identified to say that these people have a higher risk of lymphoma.”

You can’t eliminate your risk entirely. But you can help catch this and other cancers earlier — when they are easier to treat — by having concerning symptoms checked by a doctor and ensuring you have recommended screenings.

“Take great care of yourself because there’s a lot to live for,” Coulier told PEOPLE. “And if that means talking with your doctors or getting a mammogram or a breast exam or colonoscopy, it can really make a big change in your life.”

Jacoub also recommends living a healthy lifestyle in general, which can reduce the risk of other cancers.

“Limit drinking, stop smoking, lose weight as much as you can, exercise, and eat a plant-based or health-conscious diet,” he said.

Takeaway

There are several types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Coulier has a type that arises from B cells. He revealed that his cancer is “very aggressive,” but a test showed that it had not spread to his bone marrow, which improves his chances of being treated successfully.

Coulier is undergoing chemotherapy for his cancer. Other treatments for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma include radiation therapy, targeted drug therapy, and bone marrow transplant.

Certain factors may increase the risk of developing this type of cancer, such as exposure to insect- and weed-killers. However, many people diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma have no known risk factors.