hi sweettoothd, lilyann here. i too, have the aggressive papillary cancer. my surgeries were in jan and march of 2022. at the age of 80, they said they do not look at age. i go to the oncologist every month. strange thing though, i am the only thyroid cancer patient of hers. so here i am 81 1/2, given a 6-10 month survival rate. so best wishes to you.

Did you have a mutation or variant? I have HRAS mutation with foliicular features and copy number alterations. I honestly don't know what that really means but apparently it can change secondary treatments if RAI doesn't work the second time. I went to Barnes/WashU for 2nd opinion and they are running a TEMPUS in case I get Recurrent RAI Refractory Disease. It takes 6-8 weeks for results so I will done with RAI and won't have to wait if we need to do other targeted treatments.
Protocols are so different from doctor to doctor. I was told stage 3 means the cancer has progressed past the neck. So I am at a 2. The liklihood of my spreading to the other side of my neck is pretty high but was told RAI lessens the chance. I have had a TT, center neck disection and a modified radical right neck disection. I'm doing okay emotionally now, but a couple weeks ago I was frustrated and felt defeated. Hang in there. I'm keeping everyone in my prayers.