'Days of Our Lives' star Suzanne Rogers reveals 'shock' cancer diagnosis

"Days of Our Lives" star Suzanne Rogers is opening up about her cancer battle.

The Maryland-born soap opera actress, 82, told TV Insider in an interview published Oct. 30 that she had been diagnosed with stage 2 colorectal cancer over the summer. The finding came after she sensed something "wasn’t quite right" and scheduled another routine colonoscopy. A surgeon later informed her more testing was required.

"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,'" Rogers told the outlet. "And the minute he said that, I knew that it was something more."

Another procedure later confirmed she had cancer and would have to begin treatment immediately, Rogers said.

"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 said.

Rogers began treatment on June 16, three days after the actress concluded filming for "Days of Our Lives." She underwent radiation and was prescribed six weeks of chemotherapy.

Rogers added: "It was tough knowing you had to do (chemotherapy) 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."

Suzanne Rogers will return to 'Days of Our Lives' after cancer treatment

Fortunately, she completed the treatment on July 31 and is expected to continue her role as restaurateur Maggie Horton – a character she's embodied since 1973.

"I’m feeling really good," Rogers said. "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."

Rogers described fatigue as the side effect that most affects her, noting that tiredness was out of character for her. While she is not "100% yet," she revealed her health continues to improve.

"I didn’t lose my hair," she said. "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. I know what I’ve gone through, and I’ve come out on the other side, so that’s all I care about."

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, the World Health Organization said in a 2023 report. Cancer of the colon and the rectum often goes unnoticed as they typically don't present symptoms in the earliest stages, according to Harvard Health.

Regular screenings are recommended for adults 50 and older.