Def Leppard Guitarist Vivian Campbell Provides Update on Cancer Diagnosis

Vivian Campbell, the guitarist for Def Leppard, has announced that his cancer has returned following a donor transplant. In an interview with El Salvador-based radio station YSKL on August 12, Campbell, 63, stated, "Unfortunately, it didn’t stick," referring to his treatment. He received the transplant in January 2025, and this update comes 1.5 years later. Previously, in 2013, Campbell disclosed that he was undergoing chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma, a rare blood cancer. He shared that he felt a significant fear during his initial diagnosis, which prompted him to pursue the transplant as a necessary step for survival. While he did not specify the type of transplant, bone marrow transplants are commonly used for Hodgkin lymphoma treatment. Campbell indicated that he may need another transplant in the coming years but emphasized that his music career helps him focus on life rather than his illness. He expressed a desire to live life fully despite his diagnosis, stating, "I’m certainly not slowing down."