Published Feb 5, 2022

Actress Sofia Vergara, 49, Reflects on Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis & How Her Scar is a Grateful Reminder Of Strength

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Sofia Vergara's Reflection

Modern Family star Sofia Vergara recently opened up about her past battle with thyroid cancer, and how it’s reminded her every day how blessed she is.
Vergara was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2000 after doctors discovered a lump on her neck. She went through radiation and surgery for treatment, and was declared in remission.
Thyroid cancer is cancer of the butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck. It's still unclear what causes the disease, but the most common sign of thyroid cancer is a lump at the base of the neck.

Modern Family star and Colombian bombshell Sofia Vergara, 49, recently took some time to reflect on her past battle with thyroid cancer, and how it has influenced her perspective on life.

In an emotional and raw Instagram post, Vergara shared her experience being diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2000 when her doctor discovered a lump on her neck. After being diagnosed, she went through immediate treatment which included radiation and surgery. She was declared in remission shortly after treatment, and Vegara credits her treatment being successful because the cancer was caught early. “Today, I get to call myself a cancer survivor,” Vergara wrote.

Due to surgery, Vergara still has a scar from the operation, but instead of viewing it as a blemish Vergara says it’s a constant reminder of how blessed she is that treatment was successful. Since facing cancer, she’s become an outspoken advocate for early screenings and to always #checkyourneck for signs of the disease.

“…seeing the scar on my throat reminds me of how blessed I felt that day and every day since,” Vergara wrote. “I'm lucky and grateful to be in a position to share my story and say: early prevention is so important!! Schedule your annual check up for this year if you haven't already.”

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Thyroid Cancer: Explained

Thyroid cancer is cancer of the butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck. It's still unclear what causes the disease, but the most common sign of thyroid cancer is a lump at the base of the neck. However, other symptoms of the disease can be mistaken for a common cold such as a hoarse voice, other changes in the voice that do not resolve themselves, difficulty swallowing or difficulty breathing.

People can get thyroid cancer at any age, but about two in three cases occur in people between the ages of 20 and 55; three out of four of these cases are in women. Anaplastic thyroid cancer is typically diagnosed in people over 60. When it comes to risk factors, family history can play a role.

When caught early, the disease is easy to treat. The most common treatment method is surgery, where the entire thyroid gland will be removed. This eliminates any remaining cancer cells that may be present after the tumor is removed, and increases the likelihood that you'll enter remission. It's not often that patients will need to go through additional treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation after the procedure.

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