Sick Of It All guitarist Pete Koller has provided a detailed update on his brother and bandmate Lou Koller’s ongoing cancer battle. He shared the severity of the vocalist’s condition in a recent interview with The Brooklyn Blast Furnace.
Pete Koller explained the challenging circumstances surrounding his brother’s treatment and the family’s dedication to his care.
“I went up to see [Lou] a few weeks ago up in [New] Jersey. He’s staying at my brother Matt’s house. And Matt and his wife Connie are like saints… Matt retired early so he could live life. But now he’s taking care of Lou. He’s gotta be there. He’s there 24 hours a day,” Pete said.
The guitarist detailed the medical complications that have made Lou’s treatment particularly difficult.
“So Lou actually has a feeding tube because… So when the cancer came back, he had two more tumors that were pushing his esophagus folds so the food wouldn’t go in. And these tumors are on the sack of the stomach, so they can’t operate on it. So everything has to be done by chemo. Also, he has a tumor, and I think it’s on the sack of his stomach just before the intestines. So they can’t operate on that either. It sucks. So everything depends on the chemo treatment,” he continued.
Pete described the intensive care required for his brother’s daily needs.
“So he had to put the feeding tube in, because he couldn’t really eat. So Matt and Connie had to change the feeding bag, like, every 12 hours or whatever the fuck, and they have to also inject water into him, ’cause it’s hard for him to drink. And he doesn’t drink enough. That’s not good. That’s on him. Someone’s gotta rough that guy up. So he needs to drink more and all that,” he explained.
Despite the challenging treatment process, Pete shared some encouraging news about Lou’s progress.
“So where he is now, he did two chemo treatments so far. The tumors stopped growing, which is great news. But they haven’t shrunk, so he has to keep going, and I think he has to do four to six more treatments. And they’re brutal — absolutely brutal. The treatment, while he is there, I think it takes four to five hours, and then he has to leave. He has a port in him, and that’s, like, a chemo drip for, like, 24 to 48 hours more chemo. So, after all this is done, he’s completely fucked up — wrecked. But the last time he did it was just a few days ago, and usually I’ll text him, like, ‘Hey, how’re you feeling?’ I know he’s not gonna write me back for two days. He immediately wrote me back. He goes, ‘Yeah, I feel sick, but I feel pretty good.’ More good news,” Pete concluded.
Lou’s cancer battle has been a long and difficult journey that began earlier this year. The vocalist’s current situation reflects the complex nature of his ongoing treatment and the unwavering support from both his family and the hardcore punk community.
Blabbermouth reported that Lou went public in late June 2024 with the news that doctors discovered a cancerous tumor in his esophagus. The diagnosis marked the beginning of an intensive treatment regimen that would test both his physical strength and the dedication of his support network.
The hardcore punk community has rallied behind Lou throughout his battle. Blabbermouth noted that Pete set up a GoFundMe campaign to help cover Lou’s treatment and living expenses. The campaign has raised more than $380,000 with donations from peers including AFI, Rancid, and Dropkick Murphys.
Lou himself recently provided his own perspective on the current state of his treatment. Metal Insider revealed that Lou described his situation as being “at a stalemate.” The tumors aren’t growing or spreading but also aren’t shrinking. Doctors plan to continue treatments and reassess afterward.
The physical toll of the treatment has been severe. MetalSucks documented that since his cancer returned this past September, Lou has been managing a delicate balance. His tumors aren’t growing but haven’t responded to shrinkage either. This requires continued aggressive treatment protocols.
Lou Koller will continue his chemotherapy treatments as the family remains hopeful for further improvement in his condition.
