Days of our Lives star Suzanne Rogers, who plays the beloved Maggie, recently revealed that she’d been facing Stage II colorectal cancer, sending shockwaves through the soap community. Fortunately, she’s back on her feet again, with a quiet network of supporters who’ve held her up during her treatment. And at the center of that web was Linsey Godfrey, who opened up about the bond that carried them both through the hardest season of Rogers’ life.

Key Takeaways

• Suzanne Rogers fought her cancer battle with a strong support system behind her.
• Linsey Godfrey encouraged Rogers to share her diagnosis and reclaim power through openness.
• Their long-standing bond became a stabilizing force through treatment and recovery.

A friendship that steadied the ground

Godfrey (Sarah) spoke with Us Magazine at the DAYS 60th anniversary event, and within minutes it was clear she wasn’t just sharing an anecdote — she was describing a relationship that had muscle memory. She remembered those early conversations, the ones where Rogers wasn’t sure she wanted her diagnosis to be public. Godfrey gently nudged her forward. “She was a little private about it at first. I think we had a conversation where I was like, ‘If people don’t know, people won’t know. You’ll want people to know. You’ll find power in that.’ ”

There was a warmth to the way she explained it. Godfrey said opening up didn’t just make Rogers visible; it changed the shape of the experience and made it feel like something conquered rather than endured.

And in that same breath, she spoke about the ripple effect — how Rogers’ honesty becomes a beacon for people walking their own path. “For me with Suzanne, I encouraged her to be open about it,” she said, noting that countless viewers would find strength simply by watching Rogers fight. It wasn’t performative. It was survival with purpose.

The Family You Choose, and The One That Chooses You

The bond between the actresses didn’t form in the middle of this crisis — it’s been there for years, stitched through dinners, on-set days, and the kind of quiet hours that make a family out of co-workers. Godfrey described it with the easy certainty of someone who doesn’t have to search for the right word. “From the moment that we met, we knew we were family,” she said, and there was no hesitation behind it.

Rogers pushed through all the difficulties of chemo and radiation, leaning on her castmates for support. Friends showed up. Faith steadied her. And in the middle of that was Godfrey, who knew exactly what it meant to hold someone’s hand through the fear.

“It’s so important that we as people know that we’re not alone — whether it’s physical health, mental health, whatever it is,” Godfrey said. And that’s the heart of this story: a woman fighting her way back to health, and the friend who made sure she never fought in the dark. (