A rock icon has some sad news to share with fans. Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell confirmed his cancer is back after a bone marrow transplant.
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Since 2013, the rock icon has been battling Hodgkin's lymphoma. In 2025, he received a bone marrow transplant. But sadly, it didn't stick. Campbell confirmed to Blabbermouth.net. that his cancer was back.
"Unfortunately, I have met people in my life who, when they've gotten a cancer diagnosis, they've only focused on that," Campbell said. "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. 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. But I also consider myself very fortunate because I caught my cancer early. So, it's always been more about managing my cancer."
Rock Icon Talks Cancer Diagnosis
The rock icon confirmed that his cancer is back. But he's continuing treatments to fight the disease. Despite his diagnosis, he's trying not to let it rule his life and what he does.
"There's only been one time that I felt it was gonna kill me," he added. "In the winter of 2023, I got really scared about what was happening and the pace at which it was happening. And I realized 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. I did a donor transplant. 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. But in the meantime, I'm certainly not slowing down. I'm doing as much with my life as possible, not just with Def Leppard and with Last In Line. I'm also rally driving, '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."
The rock icon thanked fans and colleagues for all of their support through this trying time.
