Vivian Cambell's Cancer Journey
- Guitarist Vivian Campbell, of the English rock band Def Leppard, is “back in the game” and has returned to performing with his bandmates just months after undergoing a “successful” bone marrow transplant in his fight against Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Campbell has been battling Hodgkin lymphoma since his diagnosis in 2013. He’s underwent stem-cell therapy, took part in a clinical trial, immunotherapy, chemotherapy treatments, and a bone marrow transplant.
- 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.
- Adjusting to life post-cancer can be difficult at times; It’s important to not put to much pressure on yourself and listen to your body as you ease back into your daily activities, experts say.
Campbell, 62, took to the stage at the Coliseo José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on May 15—and he celebrated the monumental concert with a black-and-white photo of himself on Instagram, alongside the caption, “Great to be back in the game.”
Read MoreNon-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Recurrence
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His return prompted praise from his fans, with one commenting on Campbell’s post, “I’ve seriously prayed for this day for you! So good to see you on stage.”
“Vivian!! You look FABULOUS! So happy to see you’re doing great!” commented a second fan.
A third supporter of the guitarist wrote, “The first thing I see when I open Instagram. VIVY!! OMG my heart is beating so fast.
“You look absolutely incredible and are truly are a force to be reckoned with. Be proud my friend, be very proud. Much much [love].”
While a fourth fan commented, “Yes!!!!! I’m so excited and happy you’re back! You look amazing @viviancampbell. Welcome back!! We missed you!”
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Campbell’s return to performing comes after he took time off earlier this year to recover from cancer treatment and he had Phil Collen’s guitar technician John Zocco take his place for the time being.
When Campbell, who has been playing with Def Leppard since 1992, first learned he had Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, it followed months of suffering with a persistent cough. He ultimately went public with his diagnosis on social media in 2013.
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 underwent chemotherapy for six months. Although one year after his diagnosis he revealed he was in remission from the disease, 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.”
Expert Lymphoma Resources
- Could Your Lymphoma Come Back? What Happens When You Relapse
- Coping with Refractory Follicular Lymphoma: New Treatment On The Horizon
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment — and Beyond
- Could Weed Killer or Radiation Exposure Increase Your Risk for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?
- What’s the Risk of Relapse After Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment?
Then in a September 2017 Instagram post, he explained, “Back at City Of Hope today for mo’ ‘mab and scans. Happy to report that all is progressing nicely on the health front.”
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.
Campbell also spoke about the 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.”
Meanwhile, on January 23 of this year, “a very happy” Campbell shared the following health update, “Thank you for all the recent messages and support. As you all may know, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma several years ago.
“I recently had a bone marrow transplant as part of my treatment plan, and it’s safe to say that thus far it’s been a very successful transplant! I just have to keep my head down and my spirits up for the next 100 days of primary recovery.”
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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.
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 Lymphoma Is Diagnosed
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.
More recently, during an interview on the Lymphoma Voices podcast in 2023, Campbell insisted his ongoing battle with lymphoma hasn’t stopped him from living his life.
He explained on the podcast, “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. I’ve been able to continue touring.”
Campbell continued, “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 did that as part of a clinical trial. We discussed a few options. And I’d heard about this immunotherapy, and it was a very nascent treatment and I was really pushing for doing it. 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. So from June of 2015 until essentially the end of 2022, I was able to, just about once a month, go in and do an infusion of pembrolizumab and just go about my life, and it was very, very easy for me to do.”
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.
Life After Cancer
After a cancer battle, many patients feel that they have a “do-over” at life, and often tend to appreciate life and the “little things” even more. It’s important to not put too much pressure on yourself and listen to your body as you ease back into your daily activities.
For survivor Jovannie Lorenzo, who spoke to SurvivorNet in an earlier interview, getting through cancer treatment felt like getting a second chance at life. She was just 32 when she was diagnosed with colon cancer, and was a single mother to three young kids. To get through it, she put her faith in God, and she said facing her disease gave her the opportunity to really turn her life around.
“I do believe in being born again,” Jovannie expressed to SurvivorNet, “and I feel like, after having had my cancer, for me, this was my second chance at life. This was my rebirth. This was my opportunity to try and get this life done right.”
After Cancer, it Felt Like a Second Chance to Get This Life Done
Things are going to change after you’ve had cancer that’s part of the process. But it doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
After lymphoma survivor CC Webster was diagnosed at age 29, she was struck by the overwhelming anxiety she started to feel. “In life after cancer, I experienced an entirely new level of anxiety that I didn’t know existed,” Webster previously told SurvivorNet.
“Earth shattering anxiety that makes you sweat, and makes your heart race. I had to learn how to manage myself in that, and how to allow myself to process the trauma that I had just been through.”
CC says what finally got her back on her feet was facing her anxiety head-on. Eventually, she was able to walk away from her cancer journey with a new outlook on life.
Life After Cancer Will be Different, That Doesn’t Have to be a Bad Thing
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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