Deadline reports a representative for the 79-year-old Rogers, who has played the role of Scorpio since 1980, said it’s a “challenging time.” USA Today reports the representative did not say what type of cancer Rogers has been diagnosed with.

When Mac Scorpio first came to town, Robert had a rocky relationship with his brother because he blamed him for the death of their parents. Thankfully, they were able to bury the hatchet before Robert and his wife, Anna Devane, were presumed dead in 1992, leaving their teenage daughter, Robin, to be raised by Mac.