What are the odds of metastisies elsewhere?

[Guest guest]

I had Papillary Carcinoma in 1996 I had a thyroidectomy. The Cancer

was on only one side of the thyroid and some lymphnodes on that side .

The other side was clean. I never had any body scan or radioactive

anything. Just Levoxyl and TSH testing. I have had symptoms of

hyperthyroidism fot a couple years and was told it was an anxiety

disorder. A new doctor decided to send me for an ultrasound and a half

inch lump was found in my neck on the side that did not initially have

Cancer. Now I am having surgery again and the radiation scan which I

know nothing about other than what i have learned here. My question is

this : What is the likelyhood that the Cancer is in other parts of my

body and since it was first noticed in 1996 with no follow up does

that mean Cancer has been growing all over the place in my body for 5

years??!!! I am so scared that the scan will show me riddled with

Cancer and I will die. I love life. I am so frightened I can barely do

a thing. My surgery is not until Sept. 10th!!!! I think I may go

crazy before then. Is it possib;e that the scan will show no

spreading of the Cancer? My thyroglobulin test was almost zero. DOes

that mean anything? Help I am so confused and scared!!