Hello everyone. I find myself on a journey that I had not been expecting, so was ill-prepared for, and as it is not in my nature to catastrophise, panic or do drama, I am looking for some sage and practical advice please!

I had been tired for months, with three heavy colds over the winter instead of the usual sniffle. I put it down to work pressures or getting older (now early 60s) but I wondered about my thyroid, as hypothyroidism runs in my family. My GP did a raft of blood tests but everything was normal, including thyroid function. The only other thing I could think to check was the base of my throat, which felt 'thicker' than usual. She thought there could be thyroid nodules, so referred me for an ultrasound. They found a benign lump on one lobe (3.8 cm) plus a lump on the isthmus (1cm) which was 'suspicious'. Biopsies at the time of the scan confirmed the need for surgery and a month later (July 25) I had a partial thyroidectomy and isthmusectomy. Unfortunately, the surgery found more malignancies than had shown on the scan, including a spread into the parathyroid lymph nodes. I am, therefore, now awaiting second surgery to remove the remaining thyroid tissue, followed by radioactive iodine therapy.

I am finding it quite a lot to process and although I have informed my family in simple, non-dramatic terms, I tend not to talk about problems if it may serve only to add to other people's stresses. Therefore, I thought I would turn to the experts for advice! What would you advise please?