Thriving after cancer. Sofia Vergara, 47, a thyroid cancer survivor, is an inspiration. She has been making a splash in her new role as judge on America’s Got Talent. After 11 seasons on Modern Family, Vergara is excited to begin a new chapter. “I'm extremely proud to be the first Latin judge on the show,” she said on Instagram. “I can't wait to watch all the talent and have fun with all you guys!"
Read MoreWhen diagnosed, Vergara made a choice to keep her thyroid cancer treatment secret. While many members of the cancer community now take to social media in hopes of inspiring others facing the disease, Vergara wanted to stay focused on healing.
“I didn’t want publicity because of that. Having cancer is not fun. You don’t want to deal with anything else while you’re going through it,” she told HEALTH in 2011.
Sophia Vergara’s Cancer Journey
Vergar discovered her disease when she took her son to the doctor. “I have a family history of type 1 diabetesmy five siblings have it,” she told HEALTH. “So I took my son to an endocrinologist to be checked out early. While we were there, the doctor wanted to check me, too, and he found a lump in my neck.”
At the time, the actress said, she had no symptoms, “so I was skeptical about having my thyroid gland removed. Plus, the surgery is dangerous. If the doctor makes a mistake, you can lose your speech, or the mobility in your face. But I did it.”
After surgery, she underwent [iodine] radiation, and started a round of medication to combat her cancer. "When you go through something like this, it’s hard, but you learn a lot from it,” she said. “Your priorities change. You don’t sweat the small stuff. And it had a good ending.”
For Vergara, survivorship means taking a synthetic thyroid medication (Synthroid) daily. "It controls your body's metabolism and gives you the levels that you need. An unregulated thyroid can lead to problems with your weight, hair loss, and other things, so they give me a blood test every three months to see where my level is,” she explained.
“Actually, I feel very lucky. In a lot of women, the cancer isn't found until around menopause and by then its too late."
About Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer is a malignant tumor of the thyroid, a small butterfly-shaped gland in the throat that regulates hormones to control the body’s metabolism. Although thyroid cancer is relatively rare, according to the American Thyroid Association there are four types of the disease:
- Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type of all thyroid cancers. Papillary thyroid cancer can occur at any age. It tends to grow slowly and spread to lymph nodes in the neck, and generally has an excellent outlook.
- Follicular thyroid cancer makes up about 10% of all thyroid cancers. Follicular thyroid cancer can spread to lymph nodes in the neck, but is more likely than papillary cancer to spread to distant organs, particularly the lungs and bones.
- Medullary thyroid cancer accounts for approximately 2% of all thyroid cancers. Approximately 25% of all medullary thyroid cancer is inherited, and a test for a genetic mutation in the RET proto-oncogene can lead to an early diagnosis and, thus, to curative surgery.
- Anaplastic thyroid cancer is the most advanced and aggressive form of the disease. Found in less than 2% of patients with thyroid cancer, it tends to occur in people over the age of 60 years. In some cases, anaplastic thyroid cancer arises in patients who have been diagnosed with papillary or follicular thyroid cancers. While overall survival statistics are discouraging approximately 1 patient in 5 is alive after 12 months it is important to note that there are long-term survivors.
Signs and Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer can cause any of the following signs or symptoms, according to the American Cancer Society:
- A lump in the neck, sometimes growing quickly
- Swelling in the neck
- Pain in the front of the neck, sometimes going up to the ears
- Hoarseness or other voice changes that do not go away
- Trouble swallowing
- Trouble breathing
- A constant cough that is not due to a cold
Lumps in the thyroid are common and are usually benign. Still, if you have any of these symptoms, it's important to see your doctor so the cause can be found and treated, if needed.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
