Coal Chamber/DevilDriver frontman Dez Fafara has set the record straight regarding recent report of his revelation of being diagnosed with a tumor in his head. Fafara recently went public with that diagnosis, which followed the medical emergency he suffered back in August of 2024.
Appearing on The Garza Podcast, Fafara revealed that he was eventually diagnosed with a tumor in his jawline, just above his saliva gland. The growth of the benign tumor has been monitored by doctor’s and remains too small to operate on yet. Fafara for his part is determined to shrink the tumor through diet, positivity and prayer, and has apparently met some success in that department thus far.
Taking to his social media this morning, he offered the following about his condition, while also clearing up any misconceptions:
“READ CAREFULLY CAUSE PRESS HAS GOT IT WRONG!
A few days ago I let everyone know that for the last two years I’ve been dealing with an issue .
I DO NOT HAVE A BRAIN TUMOR
I DO NOT HAVE BRAIN CANCER
As reported and this is the problem with the internet!I have a tumor THATS NOT CANCER ON MY SALIVA GLAND – not on my brain.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way let’s discuss –Two years ago on a Saturday afternoon prior to preparing for TOUR I had an episode of VERTIGO-
I passed out when I awoke I was spinning & ended up in an ambulance & straight to the ER.
After a myriad of tests and a very long day & night they put me in an MRI MACHINE-they discovered the tumor. The VERTIGO was my body saying hey “you need to check some shit out!”On Xmas Eve 2024 is when I went in they put a large needle in the side of my face near my ear & took cells from the tumor as you can imagine this was very stressful-within 20 min the doctor came in and told me IT IS NOT CANCEROUS?? what a fantastic Christmas Eve that was trust me
Now,it’s in a dangerous spot & can not be operated on until it grows and in fact the last time we checked (I go in every 9 months) it had not grown in fact may have gotten smaller.
This,Other then it being there doesn’t interfere in my daily life my performing,singing etc only that I realize it’s there & that’s that !
It is however in a very delicate spot & at this stage would be dangerous to operate on at its current size because that area affects your smiling your blinking facial nerves.
I live an incredibly healthy life & my MINDSET is that I’m going to make this thing shrink/go away which they have been known to do and if it can be done THEN I CAN DO IT!
I was asked “why share this with the world ,why now?”
The answer is simple for 30 years the heavy metal community the heavy metal family have had my back and how long do you keep things from your family?I’ve been dealing with the weight of this alone only close family knew but I’m inspired to tell people not to ever give up or get down about things that happen instead take a positive outlook & fight & deal with it,Humor helps to-let me tell you.”
