โDays of Our Livesโ icon Suzanne Rogers has announced that she was diagnosed with Stage 2 colorectal cancer and recently underwent treatment.
Rogers, who has portrayed Salem staple Maggie Horton for 52 years, opened up about her cancer diagnosis during an interview with TV Insider published Oct. 30, revealing that her health struggles are the reason for her absence from the show.
The 82-year-old actor told the entertainment outlet that she decided to make an appointment with her doctor after feeling that something โwasnโt quite rightโ despite getting routine colonoscopies. She had another and the surgeon suggested that she return for an MRI, PET scan and biopsy after seeing her results.
โAnd the minute he said that I knew that it was something more,โ she recalled.
She learned after another procedure that she had Stage 2 colorectal cancer. Her doctor informed her, โโYou have cancer and you have to start treatment,โโ she said.
Rogers added, โIt was all a shock. I mean, I think I was in a shock for several days because I take pretty good care of myself. But he said, โItโs a good thing you caught it in time.โโ
She underwent treatment this summer after โDays of Our Livesโ finished filming in June.
โIt was radiation every day and chemo every day for six weeks and it was tough,โ Rogers said. โIt was tough knowing you had to do it five days a week and then you had off Saturday and Sunday. I thoroughly enjoyed my weekends because I didnโt have to go to and see a doctor. I was so tired of seeing doctors.โ
Although she initially didnโt disclose her diagnosis, she later turned to co-star Linsey Godfrey, who plays her on-screen daughter Sarah Horton, for support. She revealed Godfrey held her hand during one of her infusions, and that other co-stars, like Paul Telfer, Mary Beth Evans, Stephen Nichols, Greg Rikaart and AnnaLynne McCord, were there for her, too. Producers also told her to prioritize her health and that she could resume portraying Rogers when she improved.
Her treatment ended on July 31. โIโm feeling really good,โ she told TV Insider. โI start back to work next week, so weโll see how that goes.โ
She continued, โNow, Iโm feeling anxious like I do any time I get scripts because I want to do my very best and you donโt want to hold up anybody. So thatโs the only anxiousness I feel. Itโs not because of my illness, letโs put it that way.โ
Rogers said that her recent health struggles have changed her perspective on life. โItโs so funny because I used to worry about some silly things,โ she shared. โAnd when you go through this, it kind of takes you a while to say, โOK, well, this is what I have, and I will do my very best to fight it and to get through it.โ And thatโs what I did. The prayers and the good wishes from my friends and my family helped me stay positive and stay on top of it and beat this.โ
Her โDays of Our Livesโ family posted a message on Instagram about Rogersโ diagnosis Oct 30 and told viewers they can expect to see Maggie on their televisions again soon.
The show wrote, โWe are delighted that Suzanne has come through this challenge with her trademark grace and strength. Fans will be glad to know that โMaggieโ will remain a constant presence in Salem.โ
The post said Rogersโ absence on the show in 2026 with me โminimal.โ According to TV Insider, โDays of Our Livesโ films 10 months in advance.
โDays of Our Livesโ had previously commented on Rogers taking a hiatus from the show in July. The soap shared a statement with Soap Opera Digest at the time that addressed rumors Rogers was leaving, writing that the speculation, โcould not be further from the truth, Maggie and Suzanne are integral to the showโs history, present storylines, and now, on the heels of our pick-up, the future! Neither are going anywhere.โ
Rogers has played Maggie on the beloved soap opera since 1973, totaling 3205 episodes according to IMDb. NBCUniversal confirmed that โDays of Our Livesโ has been renewed for seasons 62 and 63 on Peacock.
Colorectal cancer develops in either the colon or the rectum, and about 3.9 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with the disease at some point in their life, the National Cancer Institute reports. Since 2018, the American Cancer Society has been recommending that patients start screening for colorectal cancer starting at the age of 45.
NBC News medical contributor Dr. Natalie Azar said on TODAY in May that colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death globally.
