Guitarist for Def Leppard, and former guitarist for Ronnie James Dio and Whitesnake, Vivian Campbell was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, plans on receiving a stem-cell transplant after a summer tour with Kiss.
In an interview with the Daily Herald Campbell stated he has been battling the disease since last year with a “high-tech” chemo treatment.
“At least I have health insurance,” he joked with the Herald. He also stated his best form of therapy has been playing on stage every night.
According to Cancercenter.com Campbell’s high-dose chemotherapy is the first step. Stem-cells are taken from the patient’s body blood, harvested, frozen and then stored until the chemotherapy is finished. The stem-cells are then given back to the patient intravenously, to travel to the bone marrow and produce healthy new blood cells.
Def Leppard will be out on tour with Kiss all summer long. The 42-date outing began on Monday June 23 in Utah, and will make its way through the West coast, mid-west, then East coast, and will conclude in Texas on August 31.
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