Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell reports Hodgkin lymphoma recurrence after failed 2025 transplant

Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell has revealed his cancer has returned after a donor transplant performed in January 2025 was unsuccessful. The 63-year-old musician, who has battled Hodgkin lymphoma since 2013, disclosed the recurrence during a recent interview with Radio YSKL FM in El Salvador.

Campbell described the moment in winter 2023 when he feared the disease might kill him due to its rapid progression. "And I realized at that point that I had to do a donor transplant. It was my only hope to survive," he said. He underwent the transplant in January 2025 but stated plainly, "Unfortunately, it didn't stick. So the cancer has returned." He is now continuing treatment to manage the disease and indicated he will likely need another transplant with a different donor within a few years in the hope of a cure.

The guitarist first received his diagnosis over a decade ago and has managed the cancer with various treatments, including immunotherapy. Despite his health challenges, Campbell has consistently worked through his illness, a factor he credits with helping him cope. "I think you have to keep moving forward," he stated. "The fact that I could still continue to work, that...