Austin North In The News
Visitor Policy
The health and safety of our patients and staff is our priority.
- Facemasks are required to be worn at all times
- Multiple visitors are allowed to accompany patients during clinic appointments (no longer limited to one visitor per patient).
- Visitors of any age are not allowed in chemotherapy suites.
We are pleased to keep you informed on the latest news related to Austin North.
Publication: Austin American-Statesman
1/18/2022 - As leaders in surgical oncology care, Texas Oncology Surgical Specialists in Austin work closely with local partners at St. David’s Medical Center, who recently earned the prestigious designation of The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for the Hepatobiliary-Pancreas Cancer Center of Excellence. Shaun P. McKenzie, M.D., FACS surgical specialist at Texas Oncology Surgical Specialists-Austin Central, Austin North and South Austin speaks with the Austin American-Statesman on the recognition, and how Austin surgical specialists are elevating the quality of care available to patients right here in Central Texas. Through innovative treatments and the latest research, Texas Oncology and St. David’s is focusing on combinations of therapies to get the best results. Dr. McKenzie’s, patient, Frank Chapa, has experienced this leading-edge treatment first-hand since being diagnosed with liver cancer. Now cancer free after being the first to try a new drug combination, Frank is “writing his own story.”
Publication: Austin Medical Times, Corsicana Daily Sun, Houston Medical Times
1/17/2022 - In a recent study by the National Institutes of Health, more than 70% of cancer patients surveyed reported pandemic-related mental health challenges. But there are ways to cope and Ashwani Agarwal, M.D., medical oncologist at Texas Oncology–Corsicana, Allison E. Gorrebeeck M.D., Texas Oncology–Austin North Suite 300 and Kendra Burke, LCSW, Texas Oncology–Deke Slayton Cancer Center outline the specific steps you can take to protect your emotional health.
Publication: Austin American-Statesman
12/13/2021 - In November 2020, Alan Anders was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He met with Shaun McKenzie, M.D., FACS, of Texas Oncology Surgical Specialists–Austin Central, Austin North, and South Austin, and learned the cancer had not spread to his chest cavity, so Alan started a five-week course of chemotherapy treatment and six-week course of radiation therapy under the care of David George, M.D., Texas Oncology–Kyle and South Austin, and Ryan Tierney, M.D., Texas Oncology–South Austin. After a follow-up endoscopy showed Alan still had cancer after the treatment, Alan underwent a minimally invasive esophagectomy and received adjuvant immunotherapy to increase his chance for long-term remission. Today, Alan feels great, finds support in his community, and focuses on living in the small, meaningful moments of his life.
11/15/2021 - This November, we honor National Hospice and Palliative Care Month in conversation with Texas Oncology palliative care specialist Quan Dang, M.D., to learn more about this important aspect of cancer care.
10/20/2021 - Medical assistants are a critical pillar of the Texas Oncology care team. From coordinating patient exams to scheduling and screening, medical assistants (MAs) support physicians and clinicians and help deliver excellent, evidence-based care across Texas Oncology facilities.
Publication: Austin Monthly
10/1/2021 -
A cornerstone of health consciousness for adult women includes being on the lookout for breast cancer. There’s plenty of evidence that this eternal vigilance is worth it. In fact, early stage breast cancer that hasn’t spread has a 99 percent five-year survival rate. For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Sherrie Thomas, M.D., explains the importance of routine breast cancer screenings and continued vigilance.
Publication: Austin Medical Times, Corsicana Daily Sun, Houston Medical Times, Natural Awakenings, Palestine Herald-Press
10/1/2021 - Responding quickly to new symptoms is especially important for detecting and preventing breast cancer, the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in American women. For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Ashwani Agarwal, M.D., medical oncologist at Texas Oncology–Corsicana, Bindupriya Chandrasekaran M.D., MRCS, breast surgical oncologist at Texas Breast Specialists–Methodist Cancer Centers, Shail Dalal, M.D., medical oncologist at Texas Oncology–Palestine Cancer Center, Moya Griffin, M.D., FACS breast surgical oncologist at Texas Breast Specialists–Austin North, and Jamie Terry, M.D., MHCE, FACS breast surgical oncologist at Texas Breast Specialists in Houston explain the importance of routine breast cancer screenings.
Publication: KTBC-TV (FOX, Austin)
4/14/2021 - The drop in preventative cancer screenings during the pandemic has caused cancers to be diagnosed at later, more advanced stages. Shaun McKenzie, M.D., FACS, surgical oncologist at Texas Oncology Surgical Specialists–Austin North and South Austin, joined KTBC-TV’s “Good Day Austin” show to explain the impact of delayed cancer screenings on late-stage diagnoses, the importance of early detection, and protocols to ensure patient safety during in-clinic screenings.
Publication: Austin Medical Times, Corsicana Daily Sun, Dallas Medical Journal, Houston Medical Times
2/28/2021 - According to the Health Care Cost Institute, colonoscopies fell almost 90% early in the pandemic and were still down 11% last fall. While this is concerning, there’s no better time to reverse the trend and prioritize your health by ensuring you're up-to-date on your routine cancer screenings. Ashwani Agarwal, M.D., medical oncologist at Texas Oncology–Corsicana, Roberto Rodriguez-Ruesga, M.D., FACS, FASCRS, colorectal surgeon at Texas Oncology Surgical Specialists–Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, Shubhadha Shrikhande, M.D., medical oncologist at Texas Oncology–Austin North Suite 300, and Susan Escudier, M.D., FACP, medical oncologist at Texas Oncology–Houston Medical Center, share tips for protecting yourself against colorectal cancer.
Publication: Austin American-Statesman
1/10/2021 - For Linda Money, family is everything. She was treated by Paul Loar, III, M.D., FACOG, gynecologic oncologist at Texas Oncology–Austin North Suite 300, and Moya Griffin, M.D., FACS, breast surgical oncologist with Texas Breast Specialists–Austin North, after being diagnosed ovarian cancer and testing positive for the BRCA gene mutation. Linda says her supportive family, including her four grandsons, have helped her stay strong during her cancer journey.