COAL CHAMBER drummer Mikey Cox has opened up about his recent cancer diagnosis in a new interview with We Were Loud Once.

Cox revealed that he was diagnosed with stage three cancer on April Fool's Day last year, and described the experience as 'dark' and 'scary.' He underwent a yearlong battle of radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery before being declared 'cancer-free.' Cox also discussed his decision to partner with Fuck Cancer to give away a unique one-of-a-kind custom drum kit.

He said: "I didn't want to announce [that I had cancer] until we kind of knew we were out of the woods...

Once we got on the other side of it, I thought it was better to announce." COAL CHAMBER recently canceled its appearance at this year's Louder Than Life festival in order to allow Cox to undergo his final surgery related to his cancer diagnosis and ongoing treatment.

The band's performance at the Sick New World festival in Las Vegas marked their first live show since Cox's successful battle with cancer.

In an interview with KillerTube, COAL CHAMBER frontman Dez Fafara praised Cox's strength and resilience during his cancer journey.

COAL CHAMBER has had its share of challenges over the years.

The band played its first two shows in eight years at the Sick New World festival in Las Vegas in May 2023 and at the Inkcarceration Music And Tattoo Festival in Mansfield, Ohio in July 2023.

They also completed a U.S.

tour as the support act for MUDVAYNE.

In January 2025, COAL CHAMBER canceled its previously rescheduled "Fiend For The Fans" U.S.

tour due to COVID-19 nearly taking Fafara out in 2021 and his health emergency."