Sofia Vergara shared a throwback photo of herself with a scar on her throat, from back in 2000, when she had surgery for thyroid cancer.
She shared it last Friday in recognition of World Cancer Day.
Sofia said the picture was taken in her first acting class after her diagnosis and treatment, which included countless hours of radiation treatments and eventually the removal of her thyroid.
She said, quote, "At 28, 'cancer' was not a word I expected to hear. It was just a routine checkup. But the doctors found a lump in my throat, and that word became part of my story. Today, I get to call myself a cancer survivor . . .
"Seeing the scar on my throat reminds me of how blessed I felt that day . . . and every day since. I'm lucky and grateful to be in a position to share my story and say: early prevention is so important! Schedule your annual checkup for this year."
Photo: Getty Images