Last night’s 2014 Angel Ball brought together countless celebrities and philanthropists for the purpose of raising both money and awareness for cancer research—and for actress Sofia Vergara, this important cause hit especially close to home.

“I had thyroid cancer some years ago,” she revealed in a new interview while walking the event’s red carpet. “But it’s not only because of that. [Cancer] is such a horrible sickness that we all should help anyways, even if you have never had it.”

sofia vergara angel ball

(Photo Credit: Getty)

At age 28, the Modern Family star reportedly had her thyroid removed and underwent radioactive iodine therapy as a result of her diagnosis. In a recent interview with The New York Times, the 42-year-old said she now takes a daily medication to regulate her hypothyroidism.

The brunette bombshell spoke with ET.

Watch the video of Sofia on the Angel Ball red carpet below.