Overview
- A routine surveillance PET scan flagged an abnormality at the base of his tongue months after he was declared cancer-free from non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- After an initial biopsy found no cancer, an October scan showed growth and a larger biopsy confirmed P16-positive oropharyngeal carcinoma.
- His doctors say the new tumor is unrelated to his lymphoma and is likely linked to a past HPV infection.
- He began a 35-treatment radiation regimen scheduled to conclude on Dec. 31, with side effects he described as less aggressive than chemotherapy but still challenging.
- Coulier cited a roughly 90% curability rate and urged regular checkups, crediting early detection for catching both cancers.