Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell has announced that his Hodgkin's lymphoma has returned after a donor bone marrow transplant failed to cure the disease.
The 63-year-old musician underwent the procedure in January 2025 following a long struggle with the illness, which he was first diagnosed with in 2013.
Campbell took time off to recover before rejoining the veteran rock group in May, later revealing in June that he was in remission, but he has now confirmed the cancer is back and expects to require another donor transplant within a few years.
Speaking on El Salvador's Radio YSKL FM, Campbell insisted he refuses to allow the diagnosis to control his life and urged fellow patients to keep moving forward.
"Well, I think you have to keep moving forward," Campbell told the radio station. "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 continuing his career helps distract him from his health struggles. "I think that deflects, that takes away from focusing too much on cancer," he explained.
Campbell noted that many patients struggle psychologically after receiving a diagnosis. "Unfortunately, I have met people in my life who, when they've gotten a cancer diagnosis, they've only focused on that. And they think, 'Oh, I can't do anything. I need to stay in bed. I can't eat this. I can't do that. I can't go there.'"
"I've never felt that way. I've always felt like I'm gonna continue to live my life as much as possible," he said. "In fact, even more so. After getting a cancer diagnosis, it amplifies that desire to tick all the boxes, to do the things you wanna do."
He added that early detection had played a key role in his condition. "But I also consider myself very fortunate because I caught my cancer early. So, it's always been more about managing my cancer."
Managing Treatment and Facing Fear
Recalling the moment he realised the severity of his illness, Campbell admitted that the winter of 2023 was the only point at which he feared for his life.
"There's only been one time that I felt it was gonna kill me," he said. "In the winter of 2023, I got really scared about what was happening and the pace at which it was happening. And I realised at that point that I had to do a donor transplant. It was my only hope to survive. And that's what I did. I did that in January of '25."
However, the initial procedure proved unsuccessful. "Unfortunately, it didn't stick. So the cancer has returned. And I'm continuing treatments to manage it. I'll probably have to do another transplant within a few years with another donor to try and see if maybe that would cure me," Campbell explained.
Despite the setback, the guitarist maintains a busy schedule with both Def Leppard and his side project, Last In Line, while also pursuing long-held personal ambitions.
"But in the meantime, I'm certainly not slowing down. I'm doing as much with my life as possible," he said. "I'm also rally driving, 'cause I always wanted to do that. So I've been doing that more and more, 'cause I love cars and I love driving. And as a child, I thought, 'If I don't play guitar for a living, I'm gonna be a race car driver.' So, I'm very, very, very fortunate and blessed that I get to do both."
Offering advice to others facing similar health battles, Campbell emphasised resilience. "So, yeah, life is for the living. And I encourage everyone to look after their own health. And if you are unfortunate enough to get a cancer diagnosis, to overcome the fear," he said. "Fear is inevitable when you're first told those words. But once you get over that, you gotta realise just how to manage it and how to deal with it as best as possible, and just don't give in."
Perspectives on Life and Mortality
Campbell previously discussed his outlook on mortality during an appearance on the Fueled With Chris Cyr podcast in September, revealing that he is not afraid to die.
He recalled how his initial diagnosis prompted him to make a major purchase. "I can tell you it made me spend more money. 'Cause, as Jerry Seinfeld said, 'You can't drive money.' So 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," he explained.
"And I remember thinking, 'Oh, that's a lot of money. It's a lot of money.' And I thought, 'I could be dead next week,'" Campbell added. "Well, actually, there is a saying in Ireland: 'You're a long time dead.' So I sort of take it to heart. I'm a little bit reckless in that way."
He concluded: "And as I see it, you can go one of two routes, you can capitulate to it or you can just live your life. And I decided to do the latter."
Tour Absences and Band Support
Def Leppard previously addressed Campbell's health status when the guitarist was forced to step back from live performances to undergo surgery and recover.
In a video message to fans, frontman Joe Elliott explained how the group adapted to his absence during a one-off performance. "It's a kind of a one-off gig and we're doing it a man down as Vivian is not here," Elliott said. "Vivian is recuperating from cancer surgery and he's doing very well, but he's in a bubble he's not allowed to travel."
To cover Campbell's parts, guitar technician John Zocco filled in on stage alongside Phil Collen, Rick Savage and Rick Allen. "So John Zocco, basically Phil's guitar tech, has manfully stepped up to the plate because he's a phenomenal player himself and he can sing a bit as well," Elliott noted. "So, rather get some stranger in that we don't know, he's doing it, which is fantastic. We have every confidence that it will go swimmingly until our boy Vivian is back on the stage with us."
Understanding Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Hodgkin's lymphoma is a rare form of cancer that attacks the body's lymph nodes, which form part of the lymphatic system responsible for fighting infection. The lymphatic network includes the spleen, bone marrow, lymph nodes and the thymus gland.
The condition originates in the white blood cells and is distinct from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It is named after Thomas Hodgkin, an English physician who first described the disease in 1832.
The illness affects approximately 1,950 people each year in the United Kingdom and around 8,500 people annually in the United States. It is diagnosed most frequently in individuals aged between 20 and 24, as well as those between 75 and 79, though survival rates are generally more favourable compared to many other types of cancer.
Common symptoms of Hodgkin's lymphoma include painless swelling in the neck, armpits or groin, as well as heavy night sweats, extreme weight loss, persistent itching, shortness of breath and coughing.
Risk factors associated with the disease include lowered immunity, a family history of the condition, smoking and being overweight. Standard treatment options encompass chemotherapy, radiotherapy, steroids, and stem cell or bone marrow transplants.
Def Leppard's Musical Legacy
Formed in Sheffield in 1976, Def Leppard emerged as one of the leading bands of the new wave of British heavy metal before evolving into one of the biggest stadium rock acts of the 1980s.
The band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, driven by massive multi-platinum albums such as Pyromania and Hysteria, which yielded hits including Pour Some Sugar On Me.
Def Leppard has maintained an active recording and touring schedule in recent years, and the group's enduring legacy was formally recognised in 2019 when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
