QUIET RIOT's FRANKIE BANALI Featured In Public Service Announcement For Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
December 14, 2019QUIET RIOT drummer Frankie Banali appeared in a recent public service announcement (PSA) for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) as a survivor of the disease. The video kicked off a PanCAN public service campaign which ran throughout Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month during November and encouraged people to know the symptoms and risk factors of the world's toughest cancer.
Banali was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer in April 2019 after going to the emergency room for shortness of breath, leg pain and loss of energy. A scan of his lungs caught an image of his liver, which is where the first spots were seen. Then came the discovery of a tumor on his pancreas.
After diagnosis, Banali's wife, Regina, reached out to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's Patient Central for information about the disease and treatment options.
She learned about the Know Your Tumor precision medicine service PanCAN offers and was impressed with the comprehensive report the couple received after Banali's tumor was molecularly profiled.
"My wife has been an incredible support to me," Banali said. "She manages my treatment appointments, clinic visits… she's my biggest advocate. Plus, she made me aware of PanCAN and they've [PanCAN] become a huge resource for us."
He has been in treatment since the spring and has completed seven rounds of chemotherapy.
"Chemo is no joke," Banali told PanCAN staff during a recent surprise visit to the national headquarters. "Everything you've heard about it is true."
This past October, Banali revealed in a social media post that he had been battling the disease for six months, forcing him to miss several live shows with the band. He was replaced at those gigs by either Johnny Kelly (DANZIG, TYPE O NEGATIVE) or Mike Dupke (W.A.S.P.),depending on each musician's availability.
QUIET RIOT's shows this year with Kelly and Dupke marked the first time ever that the band performed without any of the members from its classic lineup: Banali, singer Kevin DuBrow, guitarist Carlos Cavazo and bassist Rudy Sarzo.
Banali played his first show with QUIET RIOT since he announced his cancer diagnosis on October 26 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California.
The drummer resurrected QUIET RIOT in 2010, three years after the death of founding member DuBrow.
QUIET RIOT's latest studio album, "Hollywood Cowboys" was released on November 8 via Frontiers Music Srl.
Such an honor to speak to the staff at @PanCAN yesterday. Made so many friends and happy to have them all on this journey. #pancreaticcancer#wagehope@JulieFleshman@arosenzweig19@CDittmer@LynnMatrisianpic.twitter.com/1L5DloAddN
— Frankie Banali (@FrankieBanali) October 31, 2019
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