Sofia Vergara was diagnosed with thyroid cancer

 Modern Family fame Sofia Vergara was diagnosed with thyroid cancer when she was just 28. At a recent event, the actor opened up about how she handled the shocking news by educating herself about the condition.

During 2021 Stand Up to Cancer telecast Saturday, Sofia Vergara, 48, revealed how a regular checkup saved her. The actor shared that during the regular check-up, doctors found a lump in her neck. The actor added that instead of freaking out, she chose to educate herself.

“When you’re young and you hear that word ‘cancer,’ your mind goes to so many places. But I tried not to panic, and I decided to get educated. I read every book and found out everything I could about it," she shared. Sofia added that she was “fortunate” to have caught cancer early and is cancer-free today with the support of her doctors and “most importantly” her family.

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“I learned a lot during that time, not just about thyroid cancer, but I also learned that in times of crisis, we’re better together,” she added.

In 2011 too, the actor spoke about originally keeping her diagnosis a secret until after the cancer was gone thanks to surgery and radiation treatments.

“I didn’t want to go public because of that. Having cancer is not fun. You don’t want to deal with anything else while you’re going through it," shared Sofia Vergara.

The cancer experience also inspired her to help cancer-stricken families in her home country Colombia. She shared, “Through the charity I sponsor, we’re building a cancer centre in my hometown of Barranquilla,” she said in the 2011 interview. “I visited the cancer ward of a hospital in Colombia, and parents were just sitting on the floor while their kids were being treated. When you’re a mother and your kid is sick, you feel it yourself. I want to set up a comfortable place for parents.”

Sofia Vergara is married to actor Joe Manganiello since 2015. She has a 29-year-old son, Manolo, with her ex-husband Joe Gonzalez.

Sofía Margarita Vergara Vergara (Spanish: [soˈfi.a βeɾˈɣaɾa], born July 10, 1972) is a Colombian-American actress, television producer, presenter, and model. Along with being the highest paid actress in American television from 2013 to 2020, Sofia was also the highest-paid Hollywood actress in 2020.

Sofía Margarita Vergara Vergara was born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia. Her mother, Margarita Vergara Dávila de Vergara, is a housewife. Her father, Julio Enrique Vergara Robayo, provides cattle to the meat industry. She has five siblings. She was educated at a private bilingual Spanish/English school. 

Two decades ago, Sofía Vergara got a diagnosis that would forever change her life. 

The Modern Family alum was 28 years old when she learned she was in the early stages of a life-threatening illness. During Stand Up To Cancer's 2021 telecast, streamed on Aug. 21, the actress reflected on her thyroid cancer diagnosis and the importance of unity in the fight against it. 

"At 28 years old during a routine doctors visit, my doctor felt a lump in my neck," she recalled. "They did a lot of tests and finally told me that I had thyroid cancer. When you're young and you hear that word cancer, your mind goes to so many places, but I tried not to panic and I decided to get educated. I read every book and found out everything I could about it."

At the time of her diagnosis, the America's Got Talent judge was a single mom starting out as an actress. It would take nine more years before she would star as Gloria on the hit ABC series. 

Vergara, now 49, ended up being one of the fortunate patients who caught the disease quickly and credited her doctors and family for supporting her through the process, an example of solidarity she applied to our current time. 

"I learned a lot during that time, not just about thyroid cancer, but I also learned that in times of crisis, we're better together," she said. "We have all witnessed the power of coming together just this past year."

Sharing examples, she listed off, "Scientists around the globe collaborated in unprecedented ways to develop the COVID-19 vaccine in record time. Human rights activists took to the streets all over the world to support social justice and equality and people everywhere step up to support small businesses and entrepreneurs in their communities."

"We're better together," she concluded, "and if we're going to end cancer, it's going to require a team effort."