‘Days of Our Lives’ Star Suzanne Rogers, 82, Says She Was In ‘Shock For Days’ After Colonoscopy Helped Discover Stage 2 Colon Cancer

Rogers was diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer, which—if caught in stages 1 through 3—can often be treated successfully with surgery and, in some cases, chemotherapy.

“Stage 1 through 3, all of those patients get surgical therapy if they’re healthy enough to tolerate it. Stage 2 is a little bit more in between,” Colorectal Surgeon and Surgical Oncologist Dr. Heather Yeo tells SurvivorNet.

“It really depends on the depth of the tumor into the colon wall and the risk that it has to spread. If it has bad features– for example, if when they look at the pathology slides under the microscope, if they see that it’s involving some of the vessels nearby, then that is a higher risk factor. And then, those patients might be more likely to benefit from chemotherapy,” Dr. Yeo continued.

For Rogers, treatment meant six grueling weeks of daily radiation and chemotherapy.

WATCH: Managing Chemo Side Effects During Colon Cancer Treatment

“It was tough,” she admitted. “Five days a week, every week. I cherished my weekends because I didn’t have to see a doctor. I was so tired of seeing doctors.”

Despite the physical toll, Rogers continued filming “Days of Our Lives,” leaning on her castmates for emotional support. Their encouragement helped her push through the hardest days. Now, after completing treatment over the summer, Rogers says she’s “feeling really good”—though she’s still coming to terms with what it means to be a cancer survivor.

Understanding Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer: What to Expect

For many people diagnosed with colon cancer, chemotherapy is a key part of treatment—and it’s often well-tolerated. SurvivorNet experts say that many patients are able to continue working, only needing time off around their treatment days.

The most common side effects tend to affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including diarrhea. Other possible side effects include fatigue, mouth sores, bleeding, and a drop in white blood cell count, which can increase the risk of infection.

WATCH: Chemotherapy Before Colon Cancer Surgery

One of the most widely used chemotherapy regimens for colon cancer is called FOLFOX, which combines the drug 5-FU (fluorouracil) with oxaliplatin. According to colorectal surgeon Dr. Heather Yeo, 5-FU can be administered in two ways:

• As an IV infusion in a hospital setting
• As an oral medication called capecitabine (brand name: Xeloda)

“Different oncologists have different preferences,” Dr. Yeo explains, “but studies show both methods are equally effective.”

In some cases, additional medications may be added to the regimen. That’s why it’s important to have a detailed conversation with your oncologist about what’s best for your specific diagnosis and health needs.

Dr. Yeo also notes that most patients receiving first-line chemotherapy do not lose their hair. Many are able to maintain their regular routines, though they may take a few days off around treatment sessions.

Sometimes, chemotherapy is recommended before surgery—especially if the tumor is large or has spread beyond the colon. This is known as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and its goal is to shrink the cancer so that it can be more effectively removed during surgery.

Understanding Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is among the more common cancers impacting men and women in the U.S., but it’s also very treatable and curable if caught early. The cancer starts when abnormal lumps called polyps grow in the colon or rectum. These polyps can sometimes develop into cancer if you don’t have them removed. It takes up to 10 years for a colon polyp to become full-blown cancer, according to SurvivorNet experts.

Most colon cancers can be prevented if people are regularly screened. The American Gastrointestinal Association lowered the recommended initial age for colorectal screening from 50 to 45. However, experts recommend screening earlier for some people who may be at an increased risk of developing colon cancer.

WATCH: Colon cancer symptoms.

The most poignant signature of colon cancer is a change in bowel habits. Changes in the size or shape of bowel movements may cause constipation or diarrhea. A change in stool color, mainly black or tarry stools, can indicate bleeding from a tumor deep in the colon.

Other symptoms can be harder to pinpoint, such as abdominal pain and unintentional weight loss. Finally, some tumors bleed a small amount over a long period of time, resulting in anemia (low red blood cell count) that is picked up on blood work.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

If you are facing a colon cancer diagnosis, here are some questions you may ask your doctor.

• • What are my treatment options based on my diagnosis?
  • If I’m worried about managing the costs of cancer care, who can help me?
  • What support services are available to me? To my family?
  • Could this treatment affect my sex life? If so, how and for how long?
  • What are the risks and possible side effects of treatment?

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