Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard In Remission After Battling Hodgkin's lymphoma - Noise11.com
Def Leppard Hysteria

Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard In Remission After Battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma

by Music-News.com on June 14, 2025

in News

Def Leppard’s Vivian Campbell is “completely clean” of cancer.

Campbell was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2013, and after taking some time out to recover from treatment, he returned to the stage with Def Leppard in May.

After undergoing some “hardcore chemotherapy” and a successful bone marrow transplant, Campbell has revealed his PET scan in April showed no signs of cancer.

Speaking on SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk, he said: “I’ve been very lucky, actually. I got an early diagnosis for Hodgkin’s lymphoma 13 years ago, 12 years ago, something like that. [I went] through the mill with all sorts of chemo and immunotherapy and combination therapies, and 10 years ago I did an autologous stem cell transplant, which means using my own stem cells. That didn’t work. The cancer kept coming back, and then a couple of years ago, it really got bad. So it was the first time in having to deal with it that I was seriously concerned about it. And the doctors told me really my only chance for of cure was to do a donor transplant. And that’s exactly what I did. Starting last summer during our tour, I started doing more chemo in preparation for it. And then right after the tour, they started giving me very hardcore chemo leading up to the transplant. I was supposed to start after Thanksgiving, and I lost my donor 10 days beforehand. So that was a kick in the nuts. But I was very fortunate that they found me another one in December. And on New Year’s Eve, I went into hospital. I was in for about three and a half weeks, and I did what has turned out to be a really, really successful transplant. So I did a PET scan in the middle of April and I’m a hundred percent clean, completely in remission for the first time in 12 or 13 years. And I am obviously overjoyed. You couldn’t ask for more than that.”

Campbell hopes to buy his donor a beer one day to thank him for saving his life.

He said: “A young man, actually. I don’t get to know who he is for a couple of years, but a 21-year-old man. And they always prefer a youthful donor. Obviously, I’m gonna buy him a beer — or two or three.”

Campbell underwent immunotherapy treatment and was part of a clinical trial for the medication pembrolizumab amid his battle with the disease.

Speaking on the Lymphoma Voices podcast in 2023, he said: “I’m still dealing with the lymphoma.

“It’s sort of like – it’s an American expression – Whac-a-Mole. You beat something back and then it pops up somewhere else. But it’s been a pretty consistent battle, but it hasn’t been too difficult for me. I deal with it fine. I’ve been able to live my life.

“For the bulk of those 10 years, I actually was doing immunotherapy. Starting in June of 2015, I started taking a drug called pembrolizumab. I remember at the time my doctors wanted me to do radiation and maybe a combination of radiation and chemo. And I just thought, ‘Well, let’s just try this immunotherapy thing. Let’s see if this works.’ So I managed to get on the trial. I’m happy to say that it worked well for me.”

music-news.com

Stay updated with your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to Noise11 Music News here

Be the first to see NOISE11.com’s newest interviews and special features on YOUTUBE and updated regularly. See things first SUBSCRIBE here: Noise11 on YouTube SUBSCRIBE

Noise11.com

Follow us at https://bsky.app/profile/noise11.bsky.social

Noise11 on Instagram

Comment on the news of the day, join Noise11 on Facebook

Related Posts

Luke Bryan
Luke Bryan Struck in Face During Concert

Luke Bryan was hit in the face by a flying object at his latest concert.

20 hours ago
Everclear Sparkle and Fade
Everclear To Perform ‘Sparkle and Fade’ In Australia

Art Alexakis will bring Everclear back to Australia in November and December to perform the songs from the classic ‘Sparkle and Fade’ album.

2 days ago
Oasis photo by Simon Emmett
Oasis Release Live ‘Cigarettes and Alcohol’ from Manchester 11 July 2025

Oasis have released a 2025 live recording of ‘Cigarettes and Alcohol’ from their hometown Manchester concert on 11 July 2025.

6 days ago
John Butler photo by Kane Hibberd
John Butler Premieres ‘King of California’ Live Video

John Butler has a new live video for the song ‘King of California’ from Butler’s ‘PRISM’ album coming 5 September 2025.

6 days ago
Mariah Carey credit Ethan James Green
Mariah Carey To Release ‘Here For It All’ In September

Mariah Carey has announced her new album, Here For It All.

July 22, 2025
Sheryl Crow performs at Margaret Court Arena on Friday 6 April 2018. Photo by Ros O'Gorman
Sheryl Crow Blasts Trump With ‘The New Normal’

Sheryl Crow has taken a swipe of El Presidenté trump with the new song ‘The New Normal’.

July 21, 2025
Lucinda Williams at Bluesfest Melbourne photo by Mary Boukouvalas
Lucinda Williams Locks In A Headline Show At Sydney Opera House

Lucinda Williams will play one headline show in Australia in August when she tours as special guest of Paul Kelly.

July 21, 2025