The 50 year-old guitarist announced Monday that he’s two months into chemotherapy for Hodgkin's lymphoma, with another four months of treatment to go.
“I feel fortunate that my cancer sent me an alarm call in the form of ‘the cough that wouldn’t quit,” Cambell said in a statement. “Otherwise, how would I have known? After several months of trying every inhaler known to man, my doctor finally had me X-rayed.
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(From l. to r.) Rick Allen, Phill Collen, Rick Savage, Joe Elliott and Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard arrive at the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures' 'Rock of Ages' at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on June 8, 2012.
What was causing the enlarged lymph nodes, however, was yet to be determined, so I underwent a surgical biopsy on March 11th, the first day of Leppard rehearsals for our Viva Las Vegas shows. Obviously, I didn’t make it to rehearsal that day, but it’s okay; I know the songs by now…”
Cambell added that he’s positive since he’s feeling “spiffy” despite the side effects of chemotherapy — which included losing his trademark long hard rock hair — and he’s buoyed by the 80% general cure rate of Hodgkin’s.
“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,” said Cambell. “Simple economics, really.”
Def Leppard kicks off a summer tour on June 21 at the HellFest in Clisson, France.



















