Recently Found I have Papillary Thyroid Cancer nodule in my lung.

I went in for a smokers CT scan. They found a nodule in my lung and had me get a pet/ct scan which led to a needle biopsy showing the nodule was papillary thyroid cancer. The pet/ct scan showed no avid take up around my thyroid and my thyroid levels were normal only a few months earlier.
I had a thyroid CT a week and a half ago and from what I could understand, there had been one previously lymph node on the right side but no longer active.
I'm curious as to what they are going to do?
Is standard procedure to remove the thyroid even if thyroid levels are normal?
I have an appointment with the best Endocrine Cancer Surgeon in my area who uses real time fluoroscopy that shows every cancer cell in and around a tumor/nodule during surgery.
How difficult is it to live without your thyroid?
How well does a synthetic regulate body functions like temperature?
Thank You
PS I'm 76
Been type 2 diabetic for almost 20 years. I had a spine infection that destroyed T-10 and T-11 a few years back. My bladder quit squeezing a year ago and the thyroid CT showed severe stenosis in C-4 and C-5. Good shape, yes?