VIVIAN CAMPBELL Says His ‘Cancer Has Returned’ Once Again: ‘I’m Continuing Treatments To Manage It’
Vivian Campbell, guitarist for rock band Def Leppard, announced that his Hodgkin's lymphoma, diagnosed in 2013, has recurred despite a donor stem cell transplant performed in early 2025. The transplant, which had been positioned as his best opportunity for recovery, ultimately failed to prevent the disease's return. Campbell continues therapeutic management and anticipates potentially requiring another transplant in the coming years.
Despite the setback, Campbell maintains an active lifestyle, continuing to record and perform with both Def Leppard and his side project Last in Line whilst also pursuing rally driving. He emphasises the importance of sustaining engagement with meaningful activities and personal goals rather than allowing illness to dominate one's life, and encourages others facing cancer diagnoses to overcome initial fear and focus on proactive management strategies.
- Def Leppard guitarist's cancer has returned after donor stem cell transplant failed in January 2025
- He continues active work and may require another transplant within years
- Campbell advocates maintaining purposeful living and psychological resilience when facing serious illness