Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell has confirmed that his aggressive form of Hodgkin's lymphoma has returned, just over a year after undergoing a bone marrow transplant. The 63-year-old musician, who first joined the band in 1993, revealed the news in a new interview, stating he is no longer cancer-free and will need a second transplant.
Cancer Returns After Failed Transplant
Campbell had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2013 and underwent years of tests and treatment. A bone marrow transplant in 2024 initially offered hope, but doctors have now informed him that the transplant was not successful. He now requires a second transplant to stop the cancer from growing back.
Speaking to Radio YSKL FM in El Salvador, Campbell was asked about his health and disclosed that he is no longer cancer-free. He insisted, however: "I think you have to keep moving forward."
Focusing on Passion and Family
Campbell emphasised the importance of continuing to work and focus on things he enjoys. He said: "And I do think that that’s what helped me, even when I was at a really low ebb with cancer treatment. The fact that I could still continue to work, that gives me something to live for, something that you enjoy, that you’re passionate about, that you can wake up in the morning and look forward to."
He added that by focusing on music or family, it "deflects" attention away from the disease. Campbell also opened up about his decision to get the first transplant, which first came around in 2023. He said he "got really scared" about the future and how fast his lymphoma was spreading at that time, leading him to discover the need for a donor transplant.
Second Transplant Planned
Campbell confirmed he underwent the treatment in February of last year, and there had been positive signs from test results. However, he has now admitted he will "probably have to do another transplant within a few years with another donor," hoping it may "cure" him.
Previously, Campbell admitted that his condition caused strange side effects, including a tendency to "spend money" on anything. Chatting with Chris Cyr on his podcast, the rocker said: "As soon as I got — not as soon as, but within a year of having my cancer diagnosis, I went and bought a very expensive Porsche. And I remember thinking, ‘Oh, that’s a lot of money.'" He added: "'It’s a lot of money.' And I [thought], ‘I could be dead next week.'"
