'Days of Our Lives' Star Suzanne Rogers Opens Up About Her Terrifying Diagnosis

After more than five decades on daytime television, the soap opera icon faced something even more intense than any storyline on screen.

On October 30, 2025, Suzanne Rogers, the beloved "Days of Our Lives" star, revealed that she had faced a serious medical issue during the summer break while the show was on hiatus in Los Angeles. What began as a standard health check spiraled into appointments, uncertainty, and a diagnosis no one ever wants to hear.

A Feeling Something Wasn't Right

The 82-year-old actress, who has brought Maggie Horton to life for 52 years, opened up to TV Insider about the private ordeal she endured months earlier.

She said that at first, she just felt something was off. Trusting her instincts, she scheduled a routine doctor's appointment. She had always been diligent with her checkups, especially with screenings like colonoscopies. But her doctor asked for another colonoscopy.

After the initial tests, the physician further recommended an MRI, a PET scan, and a biopsy. "And the minute he said that I knew that it was something more," Rogers recalled.

Still, she went through with everything her doctors advised.

A Diagnosis That Changed Everything

Then came the news that rocked her to her core. After weeks of scans and tests, the doctor sat her down and delivered the words that would change her summer completely.

"He said, 'You have cancer and you have to start treatment,'" she revealed. More specifically, Rogers had stage II colorectal cancer.

She was stunned, especially because she had always prioritized her health. Fortunately, her doctor reassured her that it had been caught early. So, she finished filming on June 13, and soon after, began her treatment.

Behind the Scenes of Her Fight

The regimen was grueling. Radiation and chemotherapy five days a week for six straight weeks. And while the exhaustion built up, one thing worked in her favor: the show was on a scheduled hiatus, allowing her to keep her battle out of the public eye.

"It helped me because it gave me even more time to chill and to get myself healthy," Rogers said.

Without family nearby in Los Angeles, her support came from close friends and castmates. Sunie Ostermann and Linsey Godfrey, who plays her on-screen daughter Sarah Horton, were by her side every step of the way.

An Off-Screen Family Who Stepped Up

Godfrey, a cancer survivor herself, knew exactly what Rogers was facing. She attended infusions, holding Roger's hand and helping her stay strong.

After treatments, they would grab food with Paul Telfer (who plays Xander Kiriakis) and Godfrey's daughter, Adela; simple outings that gave Rogers a sense of family and normalcy.

Eventually, Godfrey asked if she could share the news with the rest of the cast. Rogers agreed. An outpouring of love and support from fellow actors and crew members, including Mary Beth Evans, Stephen Nichols, Greg Rikaart, AnnaLynne McCord, and even her makeup artist, followed.

Producers assured her there was no pressure, and her role would still be there when she was ready to come back.

The Road Back to Maggie Horton

Rogers completed treatment on July 31, but she admitted it has taken time to bounce back. Her energy levels fluctuate, something that was never an issue before. Still, she remains determined to return to work.

"I start back to work next week, so we'll see how that goes," she said. "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."

One bit of good news for fans: she didn’t lose her hair during treatment, so her character's appearance won't change. Still, there may be some episodes in 2026 where she's seen less, since "Days of Our Lives" is nearly ten months ahead in production.

"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," she clarified. "I don't want to upset anybody, but I want them to know what's going on."

The best part of all is that her current prognosis is extremely positive. After everything she's been through, Rogers is choosing to focus on what matters most: gratitude, strength, and the support she received along the way, especially from some of the "DOOL" stars.

She may have faced the fight of her life, but she did it with grace, quiet strength, and the same resilience that made Horton one of the soap's most enduring characters.

Sadly, while this is terrific news in the end, the show lost someone this year.

A Former Cast Member Dies

As previously reported, Francisco San Martín, best known for portraying Dario Hernandez in "Days of Our Lives," tragically passed away at the age of 39 on January 16, 2025. He was found dead at his Los Angeles home.

As per the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, San Martín is believed to have died by suicide. His passing shocked fans, who remember him for his appearances in several episodes of the show between 2010 and 2011.

The actor also featured in "The Bold and the Beautiful," where he portrayed Mateo, a groundskeeper, in 16 episodes. Additionally, San Martín had a notable role in "Jane the Virgin," starring Gina Rodriguez. He portrayed Fabian Regalo del Cielo and appeared in Seasons Three and Four.

Camila Banus, who played Gabi Hernandez, the on-screen sister of San Martín in "Days of Our Lives," paid a touching tribute to him.

She wrote on Instagram, "Pepe, what can I say but I love you and rest in peace, my friend. My only witness that pau sang happy birthday to me in the middle of a concert in Hollywood, you couldn’t believe it. Love you mucho mucho mucho. I wish I had told you more [sic]."

TV journalist and producer Michael Fairman also mourned the actor, "Very, very sad. I am a bit in shock, as I saw Francisco at my gym most every day."

San Martín was born on August 27, 1985, on the island of Mallorca, Spain, before moving to Montana, where he began his acting career in children's theater.

After relocating to Madrid in his teens, he pursued modeling and acting lessons, which led to appearances in various Spanish stage, television, and film productions. Eventually, he earned a place in American daytime shows.