Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell has revealed that his Hodgkin's lymphoma has returned after a donor transplant failed to cure him. The 62-year-old rocker, who first disclosed his cancer diagnosis in 2013, had gone through periods of remission and treatment while continuing to tour and record with the band, and this latest setback marks a significant new chapter in his long battle with the illness.

Speaking to El Salvador's Radio YSKL FM, Campbell explained that a worsening situation in the winter of 2023 led him to undergo a donor stem cell transplant in January 2025 as what he called his "only hope to survive." He said the transplant "didn't stick," meaning the cancer has since returned, and he is now continuing treatment to manage it, with another transplant likely needed within a few years. Despite the diagnosis, Campbell said he does not intend to slow down and remains focused on continuing to work and perform.