Coal Chamber’s Mikey Cox Opens Up On Cancer Battle: “Five Weeks Of Radiation… Was Pure Hell”

Coal Chamber drummer Mikey “Bug” Cox has shared new details about his battle with cancer, opening up about the treatment, surgeries and recovery process that ultimately led to him being declared cancer free.

Speaking on the We Were Loud Once podcast, Coal Chamber‘s Mikey Cox revealed the diagnosis arrived unexpectedly while preparing to leave for a family holiday.

After feeling unwell while working at his construction company in Los Angeles, he decided to get checked before travelling (per Blabbermouth).

“When I woke up from the sedation from the tests and stuff, they told me I had stage three cancer. So [they] instantly admitted me to the hospital.”

What followed was a rapid series of scans, specialist consultations and difficult conversations.

“The first day being there, I had the surgeons come in, the doctors come in, and they all tell you kind of the worst-case scenario.”

Treatable

Fortunately, further testing showed the cancer was localised and treatable, Cox explained he deliberately kept the diagnosis private while doctors built a treatment plan:

“Once we found out [I had cancer], I didn’t wanna put it on social media, I didn’t wanna worry too many people.”

His treatment became intensive:

“I did five weeks of radiation, which, by the end of it, was pure hell. I was down to 152 pounds. I could barely walk. It was brutal.”

He later underwent five months of chemotherapy delivered through a PICC line before surgery in January removed the remaining tumour:

“The test came back and they said they got all of it; all the margins were good. So, as of right now, I’m cancer-free…”

Recovery remains ongoing, Cox revealed he’s still dealing with side effects including numbness, fatigue and physical limitations that have affected recent performances. At the same time, he said the experience changed his outlook completely:

“I just listened to my doctors, listened to my wife, and thank God we’re on the other side of it.”

The drummer also partnered with Fuck Cancer to raise awareness around early detection while giving away a custom drum kit, Coal Chamber recently returned to the stage at Sick New World and remain focused on future performances while Cox continues his recovery journey.