When Spanish-language TV star Sofia Vergara was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2000, she didn’t want to go public. Coping with surgery, treatment, and follow-up appointments was hard enough. But today, as her Hollywood career blossoms with roles on ABC’s “Dirty Sexy Money” and the new movie Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns, opening this month, the 35-year-old single mom wants people to know that cancer can be conquered. Health recently caught up with Vergara while she was waiting to board a plane to Los Angeles.
HEALTH: You kept your illness a secret at first. Why?
Sofia Vergara: 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.
How did you learn you had cancer?
Because I have a family history of type 1 diabetes—my five siblings have it—I know what it’s like to have injections every day and to have craziness happen to your body. 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.
What was your reaction?
I felt 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.
And now you have to take thyroid hormone forever?
Yes, I take a Synthroid pill every morning. 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. 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 about chemo or radiation?
A little cancer remained after surgery, so I had iodine radiation. It’s not that bad. But you can’t see anybody for a few days. You’re radioactive.
Where was your son during all this?
I was living in Miami, and my mom and some of my siblings were there, too. They took care of my son, who was about 10 at the time. I tried to explain to him what was happening, so he was aware.
What was the recovery like?
Your neck is so sensitive. You can’t make any strong movements, so for two months I couldn’t drive. Your life stops for a while. I had a scar, but plenty of things can be done with scars these days. They’ve used lasers and cortisone injections. It’s not as noticeable as it was.
Have you changed your lifestyle due to your cancer?
For a while, I got really crazy about what I was eating. But then you realize you can’t live like that. You go to restaurants, and you have to eat something. You have to live your life. And no one really knows exactly how people get cancer.
How did cancer change you?
When you go through something like this, it’s hard, but you learn a lot from it. Your priorities change. You don’t sweat the small stuff. And it had a good ending.
You’ve tried to help families touched by cancer in your native country of Colombia. How?
Through the charity I sponsor, we’re building a cancer center in my hometown of Barranquilla. 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.
By Jennifer Graham Kizer
Comments (7)
I really wish you wouldn’t present medical information in a celebrity interview format. Her question answers are her opinion but I’m afraid readers will take them as factual information and they’re full of misinformation. I, too, had this cancer and operation and my experiences were quite different. Some examples:
1. “…the surgery is dangerous.” While it’s true that a small percentage of patients experience problems, calling the surgery dangerous is quite an overstatement and one that might dissuade people from choosing surgery as an option.
2. “In a lot of women, the cancer isn’t found until around menopause—and by then it’s too late.” Too late? Thyroid cancer is one of the most treatable cancers there is. Age has nothing to do with it. Mine was found at age 46 while I was first going through menopause, was very small, and was removed by surgery. No chemo or radiation needed.
3. “Synthroid…controls your body’s metabolism and gives you the levels you need.” Implying that Synthroid is the only thyroid replacement hormone and that it works equally well for everyone. Not true. Synthroid may be considered the standard treatment but there are other options. Doctors need to stop listening to drug company reps and start listening to their patients.
4. “…for two months I couldn’t drive.” I don’t know where she had her surgery or if she experienced complications, but I was able to drive within a week. And the scar is miniscule.
This whole interview sensationalizes a disease/condition that it easily treated. I’d hate to think that people would be scared off from getting proper treatment by a celebrity’s comments.
I couldn’t agree more with Janet’s posting about the misinformation in the interview with Sofia Vergara. I am currently spending my second night in a hotel because i just had the radioactive iodine treatment after having my cancerous thyroid removed 4 weeks ago. the surgery was actually fairly simple; in my case, it was painless and i could rive and resume normal activities the day after i returned from the hospital. if you have to have cancer, it is certainly the easiest kind to have and in most cases, it is 95% curable, particularly between the ages of 20 and 85. so if you or anyone you know is diagnosed with a malignant thyroid tumor, don’t panic. just find a good surgeon & have it removed. you’ll be fine!!!
so again, why would Health Magazine print comments like that? it is totally irresponsible. i am disappointed with the editorial integrity of this magazine.
I’m so glad Janet and Kelley posted their comments. I’m due to have surgery in 2 weeks. I was quite shocked by what Sofia said, particularly in reference to not being able to drive for 2 months! She must have a personal driver, because most of us every-day-folk certainly would not be able to cope very well if we couldn’t drive for 2 months! Thanks for reassuring me that Sofia’s experience is not the norm!
I was in disbelief when I read the article and wondered how I got through thyroid cancer so easily! I was diagnosed when I was 18. I am now 33. I had two surgeries and two treatments of radioactive iodine. I was out with friends the night I was released from the hospital. I couldn’t talk when I turned my head, but that was really the only “symptom” of my recovery.
I was surprised at how Sofia responded to thyroid cancer. I was diagnosed during surgery in 2002, when I was 26, and have had 3 doses of radioactive iodine. I was out of work for 6 weeks, but I was driving after a couple of weeks.
I never had any treatment to lighten my scar and after 6 years now, you’d never notice it unless I pointed it out and you looked very close.
I had complications with my vocal chords, but regained my full voice after about 6 months.
I think what she was getting at with her comment about eating was the “iodine free” diet you must have before the radioactive iodine treatment. This diet helps the iodine to kill any extra thyroid cells. One gets a bit crazed on the low iodine diet, but it is do-able with good recipes.
I am not cancer free yet, but getting closer with the help of my doctors. Even with a more complicated version of thyroid cancer (like mine) I wouldn’t say it was quite as horrible as Sofia described.
Being severely hypothroid (TSH above 100),to prepare for scans/radioactive iodine, is the worst part of it all, not the surgery or recovery.
I just got diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer in August and it already grew 4 centimeters. My Surgery is on the 23rd of Septmber and really scared. I am 21 years of age. If anyone can help it would be appreciated. AndysAngel4Life@comcast.net
Thank You
Natalie
I was really suprised about the comments of Sofia Vergara.
I just had a total Thyroidectomy, my whole thyroid had been removed exept for the parathyroid glands. About 15 minutes after surgery I was up and about. I could speak and move my head.I had two nodules, one was benign and the other malignant. I am now busy with follow-up(control), and has just started my medication with Eutirox a tyroid hormone replacement. I started with a 1/4 for 4 days, then 1/2 for 4 days, then 3/4 for 4 days and finally one tablet a day for life. Have to take it the same time every morning before breakfast.
I would advice that one should check-out the surgeon first, I would also suggest someone who is a bit older with lots of experience as in my case.
I do not even miss my thyroid gland, I am so happy I had none of the above mentioned problems Ms Vergara had.