Not a survivor, sorry but my 35yr old brother just had his thyroid cancer treated.
I was under the inpression that papillary cancer of the thyroid was common and easily treated. Even with spread it doesn't have a high mortality rate. If it hasn't spread beyond the thyroid the cure rate is as high as 80-90%.
At your age it should be less aggressive too.
My doctor informs me that, due to dietary deficiencies in the Western World, thyroid tumours are at an all-time high nowadays. (Even in our pets. 33% of all cats get one in their lifetime now).
So, not sure where your info came from, but before you freak out you might want to check again.