Can TAE Shrink a Massive Goiter? Matthew’s Results with Dr. Camacho
Most patients with a massive thyroid goiter — especially one that has "dived" beneath the collarbone into the chest — are told the only option is a total thyroidectomy, often requiring a sternotomy to crack the chest bone and reach the tissue.
Matthew Ashby faced exactly that crossroads. His massive multinodular goiter had grown silently for years until it began affecting his breathing. When his physicians told him surgery was his only path, he refused to accept that and started researching alternatives.
What he found was Thyroid Artery Embolization — TAE. A minimally invasive procedure performed through a tiny access point in the wrist, with no chest-cracking required. No general anesthesia. No surgical scar. His goiter began to shrink. His thyroid stayed intact.
In this episode Matthew shares his full journey — from discovering the goiter, to facing a sternotomy recommendation, to finding Dr. Juan Camacho and choosing TAE, to life on the other side.
In this episode:
What happens when thyroid tissue grows behind the collarbone and into the chest
How TAE treats deep-seated thyroid tissue through a tiny wrist access point — no sternotomy required
Matthew's step-by-step account of the procedure, recovery, and results
The power of patient advocacy — how he found his way to a nonsurgical option when told none existed
Why preserving your thyroid matters for long-term quality of life
Find Dr. Juan Camacho: precisionimageguided@gmail.com
Find a physician near you: saveyourthyroid.org
Book a navigation consult: saveyourthyroidwithjen.com/patient-navigation-services
Most people are told that if a thyroid goiter is "too large" or has "dived" into the chest, the only option is a total thyroidectomy—often involving a sternotomy (cracking the chest bone) to reach the tissue. In today’s episode, I sit down with Matthew Ashby, who faced exactly this crossroads. Matthew shares his powerful journey of navigating a massive multinodular goiter, the "silent" symptoms that began to impact his breathing, and how he successfully avoided major surgery by choosing Thyroid Artery Embolization (TAE). Join us as we explore how this advanced, non-surgical treatment may shrink goiters and preserve your thyroid gland, even in the most complex cases.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Matthew Ashby’s Thyroid Journey
02:49 - Discovering the Massive Multinodular Goiter
06:11 - "Silent" Symptoms: When Breathing Becomes Difficult
08:55 - The Surgical Recommendation: Facing a Sternotomy
11:41 - Researching Alternatives: Finding Dr. Juan Camacho
15:01 - How TAE Works: The Science of Embolization
17:45 - The Procedure & Recovery: Matthew’s First-Hand Account
20:40 - Results: How Life Changed After the Goiter Began to Shrink
23:47 - Why Every Patient Should Advocate for Their Thyroid
26:35 - Final Advice for Those Told Surgery is the "Only Way"
Contact Dr. Juan Camacho: precisionimageguided@gmail.com
Key resources:
-Dr. Juan Camacho on BackTable Podcast:
https://youtu.be/qH-S_8_D4eY?si=A9imME1r7ELJvOAJ
-Clinical Registry (Protect Trial):
https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06868459?cond=thyroid&intr=embolization&rank=3
-Recent Publication:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12301183/
This paper summarizes follow-up data from the first U.S. and international patients treated using the pressure-enabled technique.
PROTECT Registry PED-TAE Physicians:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Xzj2PMN8BapM3JzYxbbj-84RT_zX44A852oboYCRP44/edit?usp=sharing
Alexander Lam — alexander.lam@ucsf.edu (UCSF)
Catherine T. Vu — catvu@health.ucdavis.edu (UC Davis Health)
Ricardo Paz-Fumagalli, MD — paz.ricardo@mayo.edu (Mayo Clinic / Jacksonville)
Alan Reeves — areeves2@kumc.edu (University of Kansas Medical Center)
Daniel Scher — dscher@mfa.gwu.edu (George Washington University)
Shawn Sarin — ssarin@mfa.gwu.edu (George Washington University)
Stephen Reis, MD — sr3321@cumc.columbia.edu (Columbia University Irving Medical Center)
David Dwyer — david.dwyer@jefferson.edu (Thomas Jefferson University)
Joseph Marion — joseph.marion@essentiahealth.org (Essentia Health)
Govindarajan (Raj) Narayanan — gnarayanan@baptisthealth.net; raj.narayanan@radpartners.com (Baptist Health / Miami Vascular Institute)
Charles Hua — huacharl@uw.edu (University of Washington)
Vijay Ramalingam — vramali1@bidmc.harvard.edu (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center)
John J. Schmitz, MD — schmitz.john@mayo.edu (Mayo Clinic / Rochester)
Waleed Brinjikji, MD — brinjikji.waleed@mayo.edu (Mayo Clinic / Rochester)
Richard Marshall — rmarshal@tulane.edu (Tulane University)
Disclaimer: None of the statements made in this or any other video by Jennifer Holkem or "Its me Jen again" should be considered medical advice.
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Resources:
👉Podcast: https://www.saveyourthyroidwithjen.com/
👉Patient site: https://www.saveyourthyroid.org/
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👉Patient Navigation: https://www.saveyourthyroidwithjen.com/p/patient-navigation-services/
#ThyroidHealth #ThyroidTAE #GoiterTreatment #NonSurgical #PatientStory #DrJuanCamacho #SaveYourThyroid #MedicalAdvocacy #ThyroidNodules #HealthJourney
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