After exhibiting numerous symptoms generally associated with hyperthyroid disease, my treatment plan called for radiation treatment ... the thyroid gland is killed off by x rays, and the thyroid hormone is supplied by a daily pill.
I've survived quite nicely for the last three years with no thyroid gland. After two or three months of trials the dosage of 137 micrograms of Levoxyl turned out to be a winner ... funny how 10 micrograms either way makes a huge difference.
In any event, one pill a day is a regimen even I can't forget.
I can't speak about the oncological side or the surgical side. But I can tell you that the thyroid replacement therapy works like a charm. In any regard, I wish you the same luck I had.
BTW, the guy who does my annual endocrine workup is an avid cyclist, having finished the Bourg d'Oisans – L'Alpe d'Huez climb in about 70 minutes. So we generally devote half of the interview to my condition, and the other half to important stuff like compact chainsets and SPD-SL pedals.