Tongue cancer warning signs highlighted after 'Full House' star's diagnosis

On the heels of comedian Dave Coulier’s announcement of his lingua crab diagnosis, experts are sharing what to cognize astir the disease.

Coulier, 66, announced successful a Tuesday interrogation that helium has been diagnosed with early-stage P16 carcinoma, oregon oropharyngeal lingua cancer. 

"Oropharyngeal" refers to crab that begins astatine the basal of the tongue. The "P16" indicates that it is associated with HPV (human papillomavirus).

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The quality comes conscionable months aft the "Full House" prima announced his conflict with an assertive signifier of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. The lingua crab is "totally unrelated" to that archetypal cancer, helium told "Today" successful the interview.

"I went successful for a PET scan, conscionable a regular check-up, and thing flared connected the PET scan," Coulier said. "It turned retired that I person P16 squamous carcinoma astatine the basal of my tongue."

Dave Coulier, 66, announced successful a Tuesday interrogation that helium has been diagnosed with early-stage P16 carcinoma, oregon oropharyngeal lingua cancer.  (Getty Images)

The comedian had announced connected April 1 that helium was cancer-free pursuing the non-Hodgkin Lymphoma diagnosis.

"To spell done chemotherapy and consciousness that alleviation of whoah, it's gone, and past to get a trial that says, good present you've got different benignant of crab ... it is simply a daze to the system," helium said.

Coulier shared that helium volition acquisition a people of 35 radiation treatments.

What to cognize astir lingua cancer

Tongue crab tin impact the beforehand of the lingua (oral cavity) oregon the base/back of the lingua (oropharynx), according to the National Cancer Institute. Risk factors and prognosis tin disagree substantially depending connected the determination of the cancer.

In 2025, it is expected that determination volition beryllium astir 20,040 caller cases of lingua crab and astir 3,270 deaths, the NCI states. (These numbers lone see cancers that statesman successful the beforehand two-thirds of the tongue.)

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When including each oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers — which totals each rima and pharynx cancers — the numbers emergence to 59,660 caller cases and astir 12,770 deaths successful 2025, per the American Cancer Society.

The wide five-year endurance complaint for lingua crab is 71%.

The quality comes conscionable months aft the "Full House" star, pictured with co-star John Stamos (left), announced his conflict with an assertive signifier of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. (Getty Images)

Studies person shown that cases person been connected the emergence successful the U.S. successful caller years, affecting astir each property groups and races.

"The emergence is linked to the melodramatic emergence of HPV," Fox News elder aesculapian expert Dr. Marc Siegel told Fox News Digital. "It tin metastasize, but the prognosis is 80% to 90% curable if it's HPV-related."

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George Semeniuk, M.D., a aesculapian oncologist and hematologist astatine City of Hope successful Newport Beach, California, agreed that lingua crab is 1 of the fastest-rising caput and cervix cancers doctors are seeing.

"Early detection is critical," helium told Fox News Digital.

Warning signs and hazard factors

Some of the earliest informing signs of lingua crab see a persistent sore oregon ulcer connected the tongue, symptom erstwhile swallowing, a lump oregon changes successful speech, according to Semeniuk.

"Anything that lasts longer than 2 weeks should beryllium evaluated by a specialist," helium advised.

Some of the earliest informing signs of lingua crab see a persistent sore oregon ulcer connected the tongue, symptom erstwhile swallowing, a lump successful the pharynx oregon changes successful speech. (iStock)

Siegel added, "Look retired for a sore that won't heal oregon trouble swallowing. Show your doctor, ENT oregon dentist."

Other communal signs see a lump oregon thickening connected the tongue; reddish oregon achromatic patches connected the lingua oregon lining of the mouth; persistent tongue, symptom successful the mouth, jaw oregon throat; and numbness oregon burning successful the tongue, according to aggregate wellness sources.

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Those affected whitethorn besides announcement trouble chewing, swallowing oregon speaking, oregon unexpected bleeding successful the area.

If the crab has spread, the diligent whitethorn announcement a lump successful the cervix (from enlarged lymph nodes), receptor symptom (usually connected 1 side), oregon stiffness oregon swelling of the jaw. 

The modular attraction for lingua crab is mostly babelike connected the signifier of the illness and wherever it is located. (iStock)

The biggest hazard factors for lingua crab are baccy use, dense intoxicant depletion and HPV, Semeniuk noted.

"We are besides seeing expanding cases successful younger adults who person ne'er smoked, which underscores the relation HPV tin play," helium said. "People with long-standing rima irritation, weakened immune systems oregon mediocre oral hygiene whitethorn besides beryllium astatine higher risk."

Treatment and prognosis

The modular attraction for lingua crab is mostly babelike connected the signifier of the illness and wherever it is located, according to experts.

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"Treatment depends connected the signifier and determination of the tumor, but often involves a operation of surgery, radiation therapy and, successful much precocious cases, chemotherapy oregon targeted therapies," Semeniuk said.

"At City of Hope, we besides usage minimally invasive surgical approaches and precision-guided therapies to sphere code and swallowing whenever possible."

Coulier shared that helium volition acquisition a people of 35 radiation treatments. (Getty Images)

Siegel noted that lingua crab tumors thin to beryllium much responsive to surgical resection, radiation and chemotherapy.

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"Prognosis is importantly amended erstwhile lingua crab is diagnosed early. If detected astatine an aboriginal stage, cure rates tin beryllium rather high," Semeniuk told Fox News Digital. 

"That’s wherefore it’s truthful important for radical to wage attraction to changes successful their rima and question attraction promptly. Regular dental visits and HPV vaccination are besides important steps successful lowering risk."