Def Leppard star Vivian Campbell has revealed that his cancer has returned, 18 months on from a bone marrow transplant.
The 63-year-old musician displayed a defiant attitude in the new statement, which was released on Thursday.
Mr Campbell, who has been in the rock band since 1992, underwent a transplant in January 2025 after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma for the first time in 2013.
The disease is also known as cancer of the lymphatic system, an uncommon form of the illness that starts in white blood cells.
Vivian Campbell shared the news this week
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Speaking this week, he announced the sad news, stating: “I think you have to keep moving forward.
“And I do think that that’s what helped me, even when I was at a really low ebb with cancer treatment.
“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.
“I think that deflects, that takes away from focusing too much on cancer.”
The Def Lepperd star underwent a transplant last January
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Speaking on El Salvador’s Radio YSKL FM, he went on to add: “Unfortunately, I have met people in my life who, when they’ve gotten a cancer diagnosis, they’ve only focused on that.
“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 going to continue to live my life as much as possible.”
The guitarist revealed he actually feels “even more” inspired to make the most of every day.
Vivian Campbell and American heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio
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Mr Campbell shared how he considers himself “fortunate” because the cancer had been caught early.
Reflecting on his journey with the illness so far, he recalled: “In the winter of 2023, I got really scared about what was happening and the pace at which it was happening.
“This was when he realised he needed a donor transplant. It was my only hope to survive.”
He revealed that, unfortunately, the transplant he underwent last year “didn’t stick,” prompting the musician to use various treatments to manage the illness.
He theorised that he will “probably have to do another transplant within a few years with another donor.”
Sticking to his positive attitude, he concluded: “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 [his side project] Last In Line.”