Vivian Cambell's Cancer Journey
- Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell, 62, missed his band’s first 2025 performance in Mexico over the weekend as he’s recovering from cancer treatment.
- Campbell has been battling Hodgkin lymphoma since his diagnosis in 2013. He’s underwent stem-cell therapy, took part in a clinical trial, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy treatments. Despite his ongoing battle, he continues to do what he loves and perform, aside from the taking occasional breaks to rest following treatment.
- Dr. Elise Chong from Penn Medicine explained the difference between Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma to SurvivorNet: Non-Hodgkin is more common, but Hodgkin is more treatable and responds better to chemotherapy.
- Some people can still work and go through cancer treatment, but others, like Campbell may want to take a break from work and focus on getting better. What you can do will depend on your stage of cancer, your treatment, and how you feel.
- “We always encourage people to continue to work if they are able to,” says Sarah Stapleton, a clinical social worker at Montefiore Medical Center. “I think it creates a sense of normalcy for patients.”
- If you’re able to work, you’ll be busy and you won’t be worrying all the time about how your treatment is going, Stapleton explains.
The 62-year-old Northern Irish musician had Phil Collen’s guitar technician John Zocco temporarily take his place while he recovers from cancer treatment, as he’s been battling Hodgkin lymphoma, on and off, since 2013.
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As per Def Leppard’s website, their next show is set in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in May, before they tour across the U.S., including a stop in Canada.
Campbell’s missed show date comes more than 10 years since he was first diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, something he opened up on social media in 2013 after a persistent cough he suffered for months.
He said in a statement shared on his band’s Facebook page that year, “I feel fortunate that my cancer sent me an alarm call in the form of ‘the cough that wouldn’t quit.’
“The reason I’m sharing this with you is because, despite cancer and chemo, me and my new aerodynamic hairstyle (read: no hair) are going on tour this summer with the band and I don’t want anyone to be so shocked by my new look that they ask for a refund. Simple economics, really.”
Campbell—who has been playing with Def Leppard since 1992 —underwent chemotherapy for six months.
A year after his diagnosis he revealed he was in remission from the disease, but his cancer returned in 2015. Prior to his relapse, he said in a followup Facebook post, “I’m trying not to get too excited about it as I heard that same phrase late last year only to be disappointed again a few months after when it returned. The plan is to do a stem cell transplant as soon as the tour is finished.”
RELATED: Could Your Lymphoma Come Back? What Happens When You Relapse
He later wrote in a September 2017 post, “Back at City Of Hope today for mo’ ‘mab and scans. Happy to report that all is progressing nicely on the health front.”
Then in a 2019 interview with City of Hope, Campbell admitted to feeling very fortunate that he was able to find a drug that worked so well on his cancer, and insisted he has no plans to slow down when it comes to his career.
He also spoke about the new drug he’s taking called Keytruda — a type of immunotherapy that has shown incredible results when it comes to treating several cancers. Keytruda works by helping the immune system to attack and destroy cancer. The drug has brought hope to cancer survivors all over the world — but unfortunately, it doesn’t work for everyone.
He said at the time, “I consider myself very, very fortunate that I’ve been able to find this treatment that I’ve responded to so well.” Keytruda (or pembrolizumab) was approved as a treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma in March 2017. However, Campbell participated in a clinical trial — so he actually began treatments in 2015. He was also receiving infusions about once a month.
“Being able to continue my life and continue my work I think has been a big part of being able to come through all of this. My work is what keeps me alive. My bandmates initially wanted me to stay home and convalesce,” Campbell said. “I’m stubborn and I’m Irish and I never wanted to do that. I’ve always refused to capitulate to the cancer. I just wanted to give cancer the big middle finger and go on.”
More recently, speaking on the Lymphoma Voices podcast in 2023, Campbell revealed he’s still “dealing” with cancer as it’s been a “pretty consistent battle,” but it hasn’t stopped him from living his life.
Campbell explained, ” 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.'”
The treatment plan has continued to work for him, he said.
Learning About Hodgkin Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system. There are more than 40 different types of lymphoma, and Hodgkin lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma are two sub-categories with the latter being more common.
The type of white blood cells linked to the disease determines the distinction. If doctors are unable to detect the Reed-Sternberg cell a giant cell derived from B lymphocytes then it is categorized as Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
According to the National Cancer Institute, Hodgkin Lymphoma “most frequently presents in lymph node groups above the diaphragm and/or in mediastinal lymph nodes.”
Lymphoma Biopsy: What to Expect
In a previous interview, Dr. Elise Chong, a medical oncologist at Penn Medicine, explained that Hodgkin lymphoma is most often seen in younger adults. And although less common, it is generally easier to cure than Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Dr. Chong also said lymphoma symptoms can be difficult to detect. “The symptoms of lymphoma, especially if you have a low-grade lymphoma, often are no symptoms. People say, but I feel completely fine, and that’s very normal,” she explains.
Expert Lymphoma Resources
- All About Biopsies to Diagnose Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- When Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Relapses: How Chemotherapy Can Help
- Could Your Lymphoma Come Back? What Happens When You Relapse
- Coping with Refractory Follicular Lymphoma: New Treatment On The Horizon
- Exciting New Developments in Treatment For Mantle Cell Lymphoma
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment — and Beyond
What Are Your Risks?
“The patients who are diagnosed with lymphoma early, typically it’s luck,” Dr. Chong says. They may have had a symptom that made their doctor check them, or the cancer showed up on a scan or blood test that was done for another reason.
Until an effective screening test does become available, you can increase your odds of finding lymphoma early by knowing whether you’re at risk, and staying alert for symptoms.
You might be at higher risk for this cancer if you:
- Have been infected with the HIV or Epstein-Barr virus
- Had an organ transplant
- Have a family history of lymphoma
- Have been treated with radiation or chemotherapy drugs for cancer in the past
- Have an autoimmune disease
Let your doctor know about these risks, so he or she can keep a close eye on you. You may need more frequent checkups and tests.
Finding Lymphoma Early: Do you Know the Symptoms and Risks?
Also watch out for lymphoma symptoms. The most common ones are:
- Swollen glands in your neck, armpit, or groin
- Fever
- Chills
- Night sweats
- Weight loss without trying
- Feeling tired
- Swelling in your belly
Many different conditions, including infections, cause these same symptoms. So don’t panic if you have them. It’s most likely something more benign, but still worth getting checked out. It’s also a good idea to see your doctor for any unusual symptoms, even if they’re not on this list.
How Doctors Diagnose Lymphoma
Most people with lymphoma see their doctor because they have a swollen gland that won’t go away, or they just don’t feel right. If you suspect there’s a problem, you can start with a visit to your family doctor.
The doctor will first ask about your symptoms and risk factors. Then you’ll have a physical exam, looking for swelling in your lymph nodes and belly. Your doctor will try to rule out other causes, such as an infection, which may require that you get a blood test.
The only way to confirm that you have lymphoma is with a biopsy — removing a small piece of a lymph node for testing. Because this test is somewhat invasive, your doctor won’t do it unless he or she has a strong suspicion that you have lymphoma.
A lab will test the sample to see if it contains cancer cells. The biopsy results can also show what type of lymphoma it is.
You might also need imaging tests such as an x-ray, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or positron emission tomography (PET) scan to find out what’s causing your symptoms, and if you do have lymphoma, to determine its stage.
Advocating for yourself is important when you’re trying to get an accurate diagnosis. If you have persistent symptoms that look like lymphoma and your doctor hasn’t sent you for a biopsy, it might be worth seeking out a second opinion.
Monitoring Hodgkin Lymphoma
It’s important to understand that once you’re done with treatment for Hodgkin Lymphoma, it doesn’t mean that your cancer-related care is finished, according to The American Society of Clinical Oncology.
“Care for people diagnosed with lymphoma does not end when active treatment has finished,” says The American Society of Clinical Oncologists. “Your health care team will continue to check that the cancer has not come back, manage any side effects and late effects of treatment, and monitor your overall health. This is called follow-up care.”
Follow-up care generally means talking with your doctor, doing a physical examination, having blood tests done, and sometimes even doing scans.
“At most cancer centers, follow-up visits are scheduled every 3 to 4 months for the first 1 to 2 years after treatment is completed, which is when the risk of recurrence is highest,” the ASCO website states. “After that, the time between visits increases over time. Later visits may only be 2 to 3 times per year until 5 years have passed. After 4 to 5 years, patients should discuss options for long-term surveillance with the health care team.”
Long-term surveillance can include going to a survivorship clinic in a cancer center, receiving ongoing care from your cancer care team, or transferring to a long-term plan with a primary care provider.
Quality of life is also important to consider when it comes to follow-up care. According to ASCO, Hodgkin lymphoma survivors, in particular, are encouraged to look out for symptoms of depression and to talk with their doctor immediately if they notice any signs. Always remember, your emotional health is just as important as your physical health.
Overall, every person’s cancer journey looks different. Your long-term care can differ greatly from someone with the same disease, but it’s important to talk with your doctor about what your individual plan should look like.
How to Have That Hard Conversation With Your Workplace
In Vivian Campbell’s case, we’re happy his band understand’s he needs time to recover amid cancer treatment and they’ve been able to fill his spot in the meantime so that the show may still go on. It’s important to take time for your health and do what’s necessary before returning to work.
“The analogy of putting on your seat belt before anyone else rings true when deciding how to prioritize your physical health in the workplace,” Dr. Marianna Strongin, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Strong In Therapy Psychology, tells SurvivorNet.
“We must attend to our physical body in order to have room for our career and work. Since work will not heal us, our time and energy should be focused on ways to heal.”
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“In order to have a fulfilling and successful career, we must feel healthy and sturdy both physically and mentally,” Strongin says. These two go hand-in-hand.
Therefore, when faced with an illness that impacts your work life or the life of a loved one, Strongin says, it’s absolutely critical to communicate this to your workplace.
“I suggest communicating your worries, and also facts about your illness, so that the proper assistance is created to support you. In order to give your physical health the attention it needs and deserves, one must take the pressures of work off their plate so that they can attend to their health without worrying about the repercussions.”
“Most importantly, I suggest you create space and room to heal,” Strongin adds. “If you find that you have the motivation and energy to incorporate work into your healing journey, it will be important to keep a healthy balance always checking in on your needs and wants.”
For some, working has the power to keep their mind sharp and allows them to have “normalcy” in their life. For instance, two high-powered female executives one at Facebook and the other at Google battled cancer, and they say the fight helped inspire their work. (Nicola Mendelsohn of Facebook and Ruth Porat of Google are two of the most powerful women in the tech field.) But not everyone is like this.
However, Strongin adds, “It will be up to you to decide on what feels most helpful for you. Just remember, there’s no right way to balance an illness and your career. It feels hard because it is hard.
Strongin’s message is one we often forget; we tend to get wrapped up in the day-to-day operations of our jobs. “It’s OK to skip that routine doctor’s appointment because I have a meeting later,” you might think to yourself, “I’ll just go next week.” But this can turn into a damaging mindset; putting your work before health won’t create a sustainable lifestyle for your future.
Sarah Stapleton, a clinical social worker at Montefiore Medical Center, also previously told SurvivorNet, ““We always encourage people to continue to work if they are able to. I think it creates a sense of normalcy for patients.” If you’re able to work, you’ll be busy and you won’t be worrying all the time about how your treatment is going, she says.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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