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Sofia Vergara has spoken about her experience of being diagnosed with thyroid cancer at the age of 28.
Speaking during a segment on Stand Up To Cancer at the weekend, the Modern Family and America's Got Talent star said that she was "fortunate" that it was detected when she was young.
"At 28 years old during a routine doctor's visit, my doctor felt a lump in my neck. They did a lot of tests and finally told me I had thyroid cancer," she said.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that lies at the base of the throat, in the front part of the neck.
The gland produces hormones that control a multitude of bodily functions, including heart rate, blood pressure, weight, metabolism, breathing, and temperature.
The most common symptom of thyroid cancer is a swelling or lump in the neck, which will increase in size as the tumor grows.
Secondary symptoms include pain while swallowing, breathing difficulties and a hoarse voice.
However, in its early stages it may not cause any clear symptoms, and may instead be detected during a routine physical exam, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Vergara has said in the past that she didn't think that she had any of these symptoms when she was diagnosed.
"I took my son to an endocrinologist ... While we were there, the doctor wanted to check me, too, and he found a lump in my neck," she told Health in 2011.
Several factors can affect the prognosis and treatment, such as the age of the patient at the time of diagnosis, the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer, and the patient's general health.
Surgery is the most common form of treatment for thyroid cancer, either through the removal of the whole thyroid or the part of the gland affected by the cancer.
In cases where the tumor isn't able to be completely removed by surgery, radiation therapy may also be administered.
Chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy may also be used to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Vergara had her thyroid removed before undergoing iodine radiation, and now takes Levothyroxine to regulate her metabolism.
The National Cancer Institute estimates that more than 44,000 new cases of thyroid cancer will be detected in 2021, and that approximately 2,200 people will die from the condition this year.
It adds that thyroid cancer is more common in women than it is in men, and death rates increase with age.
