Hello mzmac628, I am so sorry to read your post but want to give you some encouragement on thyroid cancer. My cancer had spread to one lymph node and they removed that node. Hopefully, yours may only be in a few nodes and if so, they can be removed and you will be okay. I know how scary and frightening this must feel to you. I felt the same way! These benign nodes just turned cancerous on me out of the blue! I understand that thyroid cancer is slow-growing so even if it is in the lymph nodes and they remove them, you will be okay. Now, I take a pill every morning for my thyroid for the rest of my life. I just have to remember to take it!!! I just said a prayer that all will be well for you, the thyroid will be removed, along with those lymph nodes and you will be fine. Take good care and be sure to post how you are doing. The surgery itself is not a big deal. One night in the hospital to monitor you and then home the next day. You might feel tired but after that first day home, you will be okay. All of my best wishes to you. MaryAnn from Boston