Plavix and Thyroid cancer

I have thyroid cancer and need to have my thyroid removed. I had a drug eluting stent 3 months ago after a mild heart attack. My cardiologist will not allow me to go off of Plavix so I finally found a surgeon that will do the surgery while I am on Plavix. Is this the right thing to do, how much higher is the risk of death while on Plavix compared to having your thyroid removed when you are not on Plavix? I have a 1.2cm papillary cancer node