Celebrities
Sophia Vergara’s experience overcoming cancer
The ‘Modern Family’ actress has overcome a serious disease to get where she is today, and now pours herself into helping others battling cancer.
Sofia Vergara overcame thyroid cancer as a 28-year-old young woman.
Vergara came across a lump on her throat in 2000, and though she had no symptoms at the time, she went to get it checked out by a doctor. The Columbian-American actress underwent surgery and iodine radiation treatment.
Sofia Vergara’s cancer journey
The ‘America’s Got Talent’ judge said that her family has a history of thyroid cancer, which affects how the body metabolizes sugar. As the thyroid is related to metabolism, Vergara was concerned about her young son’s risk of diabetes, and got him tested early.
Vergara talked about having to undergo surgery when she had no symptoms other than the lump, and she is grateful she went through with it, for it could have grown and become untreatable otherwise.
“When you go through something like this, it’s hard, but you learn a lot from it,” Vergara said. “Your priorities change. You don’t sweat the small stuff. And it had a good ending.”
The treatment not only included the surgery and radiation therapy, but Vergara also had to take regular medication too.
“It controls your body’s metabolism and gives you the levels that you need,” Vergara explained about the pill she had to take every day. “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.”
“Actually, I feel very lucky. In a lot of women, the cancer isn’t found until around menopause — and by then it’s too late.”
What Is Thyroid Cancer?
According to the National Cancer Institute, “Thyroid cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the thyroid gland,” which is a tiny gland at the base of the neck.
Like in Vergara’s case, symptoms usually start with a lump on the neck, or a swollen neck area.
The doctor will examine the thyroid and neck and take blood tests to diagnose the cancer.
Treatment has advanced greatly in expanding a sick child’s life, and overall survival rates are climbing, but Vergara says there is still a lot of work to be done.
Healed from cancer and helping those suffering
Sofia Vergara, who has held the title of highest-earning woman in American entertainment, has dedicated herself to helping children with cancer overcome the disease.
She is now raising awareness and money for cancer research at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The 50-year-old actress has also helped build a cancer center in Barranquilla, the town where she was born.
“I visited the cancer ward of a hospital in Colombia, and parents were just sitting on the floor while their kids were being treated,” Vergara said.
“When you’re a mother and your kid is sick, you feel it yourself,” Vergara continued, and noted that it would be a good idea to set up a “comfortable place for parents.”