The 82-year-old actress completed radiation and chemotherapy treatments in July after a Stage II colorectal cancer diagnosis
Soap opera actress Suzanne Rogers revealed this week that she has been diagnosed with cancer.
The “Days of Our Lives” actress, who has played Maggie Horton on the show for 52 years, told TV Insider that she was diagnosed with Stage II colorectal cancer after she felt something “wasn’t quite right.”
The 82-year-old said that she regularly gets colonoscopies, but her doctor ordered another one.
“He said, ‘I want you to have an MRI and I want you to have a PET scan and I’m going to do a biopsy,’” she said her doctor told her. “And the minute he said that I knew that it was something more.”
She said after she went in for another procedure, her doctor told her: “‘You have cancer and you have to start treatment.’ It 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, ‘It’s a good thing you caught it in time.'”
She began treatment three days after wrapping the season of “Days of Our Lives” in June.
“It was radiation every day and chemo every day for six weeks, and it was tough,” she admitted. “It 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 didn’t have to go to and see a doctor. I was so tired of seeing doctors.”
Rogers said she was grateful for the show’s six-week hiatus over the summer because she didn’t have to go public with her diagnosis while she was undergoing treatment.
“I was able to keep it under wraps and then the show took that break, so it wasn’t necessary to get into it all then,” she said. “It helped me because it gave me even more time to chill and to get myself healthy.”
The show shoots 10 months ahead of when it airs, meaning that Rogers will be missing from some episodes next year.
Suzanne Rogers as Maggie Horton on “Days of Our Lives” in 1974. (Herb Ball/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
“My sister, who checks in with me two or three times a day, said there’s been some things on Facebook that said that I had retired and I had left the show, and none of that is true. I don’t want to upset anybody, but I want them to know what’s going on.”
Rogers’ onscreen daughter, Linsey Godfrey, who plays Sarah Horton, would sometimes accompany her to the hospital because Rogers doesn’t have family in Los Angeles.
“I had to have an infusion, and it takes about an hour and a half, so Linsey sat there with me and held my hand while I was having it,” she said. “We would go out to lunch or dinner with [fellow “Days of Our Lives” actor] Paul Telfer and Linsey’s daughter, Aleda. I knew I could count on them, so it was a lovely experience on and off the set. We really feel like a family.”
She added that no one else on the show knew about her diagnosis.
“Nobody knew and then Linsey said, ‘Look, can I tell a few people, just to give you a call and say hi so you don’t feel like you’re so alone?'” she said. “Mary Beth [Evans] called. Stephen [Nichols] called me, and it was so lovely to get a call from him. And Greg Rikaart stayed in touch, as did AnnaLynne [McCord] and my makeup person at the show.”
She said the producers also told her to take care of herself and that her role would be there for her when she was healthy enough to return.
Rogers completed her treatments at the end of July.
“I’m feeling really good,” she told TV Insider. “I start back to work next week, so we’ll see how that goes. Now, I’m feeling anxious like I do any time I get scripts because I want to do my very best and you don’t want to hold up anybody. So that’s the only anxiousness I feel. It’s not because of my illness, let’s put it that way.”
She said the biggest thing she’s struggled with in her recovery is tiredness.
“I have a lot of energy all the time, so it really kind of shook me thinking, ‘Am I going to get my energy back?’” she said. “And it seems like it’s coming back. It’s not 100% yet, but I feel better. Today I feel really good, and that’s happening more and more than the other way around, so I’m really happy about that.”
Suzanne Rogers at the 51st Daytime Emmy Awards last year. (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
Rogers also noted that she didn’t lose her hair during her treatments because she was taking chemo pills.
“I’m sure there’ll be people that are saying, ‘Well, she didn’t really have cancer,’ but you know what? I really don’t care what people say,” she admitted. “I know what I’ve gone through and I’ve come out on the other side, so that’s all I care about.”
She said her ordeal has helped give her perspective.
“It’s so funny because I used to worry about some silly things, and when you go through this, it kind of takes you a while to say, ‘OK, well, this is what I have, and I will do my very best to fight it and to get through it,'” she said. “And that’s 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.”
From Rockette to Salem Matriarch: Suzanne Rogers’ Enduring Legacy and Quiet Health Battle
Los Angeles, CA — For over five decades, actress Suzanne Rogers has been a fixture on daytime television, known affectionately to millions as the beloved Maggie Horton on the enduring NBC/Peacock soap opera, Days of Our Lives. But behind her status as the longest-running continuously-appearing actress on the show, Rogers’ life journey is one defined by graceful transformation and, recently, a quiet, personal health battle.
The Dancer’s Start in the Big Apple
Born Suzanne Cecelia Crumpler on July 9, 1943, Rogers began her career far from the fictional town of Salem. Inspired by the legendary Ginger Rogers, she left her Virginia home at 17 to chase her dreams in New York City.
Rogers successfully transitioned into professional dance, securing a coveted spot as one of the dancers at Radio City Music Hall—a major achievement for the young performer. Her talent extended to Broadway, where she graced the stage in notable productions including Coco, Hallelujah Baby, and Follies.
Finding a Home on Daytime Television
After a decade of dancing, Rogers pivoted to acting, moving to California in January 1973. She honed her craft at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting before landing the role that would define her career: the gentle, yet resilient, Maggie Horton.
Her debut as Maggie in 1973 marked the beginning of an extraordinary run. Rogers not only found her professional calling but quickly earned recognition from the industry: in 1979, she became the first-ever recipient of the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Today, as the new matriarch of the Horton family, Rogers stands as the only actress from the show’s early days who remains continuously on the cast.
A Private Life and Public Health Victory
While her professional life has been overwhelmingly public, Rogers has kept her personal affairs relatively private. Her marital status includes a brief marriage to actor Sam Groom, which lasted from 1980 to 1982.
More recently, the 82-year-old actress faced a major health challenge. This past summer, Rogers was diagnosed with Stage II Colorectal Cancer.
“He said, ‘You have cancer and you have to start treatment.’ It was all a shock,” Rogers recently revealed, expressing gratitude that the disease was caught in time.
Rogers immediately began treatment, undergoing six weeks of daily radiation and chemotherapy. Fortunately, the show’s annual summer hiatus allowed her to keep her fight private and focus on healing.
Rogers completed her treatment on July 31 and has shared that she is now “feeling really good.” She has since returned to the set, ready to reprise her role as Maggie, a true testament to her enduring resilience both on and off-screen.
Beloved ‘Days of Our Lives’ Legend Suzanne Rogers Reveals Cancer Battle and Break From Show
‘You have cancer and you have to start treatment. It was all a shock,’ the soap star said.
Key Points
- Suzanne Rogers revealed her Stage II colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment journey.
- “It was all a shock… I take pretty good care of myself,” Rogers shared.
- Rogers is recovering, returning to Days of Our Lives, and grateful for her support system.
Days of Our Lives fan favorite Suzanne Rogers has revealed that she was diagnosed with cancer this summer.
The actress has played Maggie Horton Kiriakis for 52 years on the hit Peacock soap. However, Rogers had to take a break from the show and the character she loves to play to fight cancer.
Suzanne Rogers Opens Up About Her Cancer Fight
During an interview with TV Insider, Rogers opened up about her health crisis. Rogers admitted that this summer, something felt off, so she sought medical attention.
Despite having recently had a colonoscopy, Rogers’ doctor ordered another one. The result led the doctor to order a PET scan and an MRI. It was then that the doctor discovered that Rogers had Stage II colorectal cancer.
“He said, ‘You have cancer and you have to start treatment.’ It was all a shock,” Rogers shared. “I mean, I think I was in shock for several days because I take pretty good care of myself. But he said, ‘It’s a good thing you caught it in time.’”
Rogers has taken a leave of absence from Days of Our Lives to focus on her treatment. The soap icon filmed her last episode on June 13, and immediately began chemotherapy and radiation. She had treatment every day for six weeks.
“The biggest thing is that I was tired because that’s not like me. I have a lot of energy all the time, so it really shook me thinking, ‘Am I going to get my energy back?’” she said.
After completing treatment on July 31, the actress has gotten her energy back, but her recovery has also had complications. However, Rogers assured fans that she is on the mend and headed back to Salem.
Days of Our Lives Suzanne Rogers Takes a Break Amid Cancer Battle
Rogers explained that she kept her diagnosis quiet from her Days of Our Lives family for a while. The show’s annual six-week summer break helped her avoid questions of why she was absent from set.
She leaned on Paul Telfer (Xander), Linsey Godfrey (Sarah), and her good friend Sunie Ostermann during treatment. One of them was by her side at every single appointment, but her other cast members were in the dark until Godfrey asked to tell them.
Rogers agreed and was soon flooded with calls from Mary Beth Evans (Kayla), Stephen Nichols (Steve), Greg Rikaart (Leo), AnnaLynne McCord (Cat), and her makeup artist, who were in constant contact, just to name a few.
Next week, the soap legend will be back on set, and Maggie will be back on screen. Due to Days of Our Lives’ advanced filming schedule, Maggie’s absence won’t take place until April 2026.
“At least the audience will know why. My sister, who checks in with me two or three times a day, said there’s been some things on Facebook that said that I had retired and I had left the show, and none of that is true. I don’t want to upset anybody, but I want them to know what’s going on,” Rogers expressed.
While she isn’t 100% in the clear, Rogers is grateful for where she is today and the positive prognosis she has been given. Rogers credits friends, family, and prayer for helping her stay positive during this trying time.
Days of Our Lives airs weekdays on Peacock.
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