Vivian Campbell, the guitarist for the rock band Def Leppard, has revealed that his cancer has returned. Campbell, 63, shared in a recent interview with radio station YSKL in El Salvador that a donor transplant he received in January 2025 was ultimately unsuccessful.
"Unfortunately, it didn’t stick," Campbell stated. "So the cancer has returned, and I’m continuing treatments to manage it."
Campbell was first diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2013, and the cancer returned in 2015. He explained that during the winter of 2023, he experienced a period of intense fear regarding his health and the rapid progression of the disease. This led him to pursue a donor transplant as what he considered his only hope for survival at the time.
He added that he will likely need another transplant within a few years, again with a different donor. Despite the ongoing health challenges, Campbell expressed a determination not to let his condition slow him down and encouraged other cancer patients to "keep moving forward."
"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 said. Campbell joined Def Leppard in 1992. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in October 2025.
Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer affecting the lymphatic system that is generally considered highly treatable, according to the Mayo Clinic. Treatment options can include chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, bone marrow transplant, and participation in clinical trials.
Campbell has also performed with other bands, including Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy. Def Leppard is continuing its touring schedule, with a performance planned for Oct. 15 in Hollywood, Florida, followed by a month-long tour in Latin America.