WINTER 2023

SEASONS GREETINGS FROM ACCC

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

One of the best parts of the holiday season is the chance to pause, reflect, and be grateful for not only the joys and accomplishments, but also for the challenges and stressors that allow us to stretch and grow as veterinarians, business owners, and people. Thanks to your support and the extraordinary dedication of my team, we continue to grow and thrive here at ACCC, working hard every day to treat Animal Patients battling cancer. 

We are particularly excited about the addition of veteran oncologist Dr. Renee Alsarraf to our team, starting in January. She traveled with us in June to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum in Philadelphia and again in October for the Annual Veterinary Cancer Society (VCS) Conference in Nevada, where we held book signings and a private dinner. The response to her book, Sit, Stay, Heal: What Dogs Teach Us About Living Well, was overwhelming. Her poignant story of her and her dog’s simultaneous cancer diagnosis and treatment is incredibly moving. Also in October, we were honored to participate as sponsors of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS).

This summer, as you all know, we once again hosted a series of webinars and enjoyed our best participation in the three years we’ve offered the program. Merck Animal Health once again graciously served as our sponsor. Thank you to all of you who logged in to the programs. We’re already hard at work on next year’s program, so please let me know if you have topic suggestions.

On a personal note, in July, I lost my dad, Jerry P. Shank, DVM, a primary care veterinarian in South Florida for more than four decades. My dad loved being a veterinarian, and he was deeply committed to our profession. I strive every day to carry on his legacy and continue to think about the future of our cherished profession and the impact we have daily on the animals and people that we serve.  

On behalf of the entire team here at ACCC, we wish you a joyous and safe holiday season.

Happy Holidays,

ACCC Offering Spectrum of Care Options for Radiation Therapy

Five-Day Treatment Protocol Given Over One Week



By Stephanie Correa, DVM, Board-Certified in Medical Oncology and Jarred Lyons, DVM, Board-Certified in Radiation Oncology

With the rising cost of animal health care, the AVMA recently launched discussions about the concept of spectrum of care in veterinary practice. Spectrum of care is the concept that veterinary care exists along a continuum. Applying a spectrum of care helps to address the problem of affordability of veterinary care by offering a range of acceptable care options that are evidence-based while remaining responsive to client expectations in addition to financial and other resource limitations. The spectrum of care concept can not only be applied to general practice but also to specialty practice. We have chosen to apply the concept of spectrum of care to our radiation therapy treatment protocols. 

Low-dose or palliative radiation therapy is frequently used in cancer therapy for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. It can also be used for its therapeutic effects and as a great “middle ground” option when a definitive care approach is not financially feasible for owners. Palliative radiation therapy is commonly used in the treatment of transitional cell carcinomas in the lower urinary tract of dogs and has been shown to be highly successful at improving patients' clinical signs (hematuria, stranguria, pollakiuria). It is commonly used to de-obstruct dogs and in combination with chemotherapy can be a highly successful alternative to standard definitive radiation therapy options. Along with transitional cell carcinoma, there are many other cancers that can be treated with palliative radiation therapy including osteosarcoma, prostate cancer, and squamous cell carcinoma.  

Palliative or low-dose radiation usually consists of a five-day protocol given over a week with minimal side effects, and if successful, can be repeated multiple times as the need arises. Palliative radiation therapy is used to treat pain and inflammation associated with tumors and is utilized for patient comfort. It is a short course of therapy usually given over three to five days with minimal to no side effects, and may also decrease the tumor size or slow its progression. A palliative radiation protocol will cost between $2,200 and $2,900, depending on whether the protocol is a three-day or five-day protocol. 

Incorporating palliative radiation therapy into more treatment protocols will allow for better Outcomes for our Animal Patients, and making this option more affordable will allow for greater access to this type of therapy. 

Dr. Renee Alsarraf Joins ACCC

Starting in January 2024, Renee Alsarraf, DVM, DACVIM, will be supporting our team in Central Florida. Her more than 30-year career as a veterinary oncologist includes completing an internship and a medical oncology residency at the Animal Medical Center in New York City and experience at Memorial Sloan Kettering working in a tissue culture lab. She has performed numerous veterinary clinical trials, co-authored peer-reviewed journal articles, and lectured locally and on the national level.  

She completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University’s Veterinary School. While there, she established the University’s Pet Loss Support Group, which is still in existence today. She also serves on the national board of the Animal Cancer Society.

Her acclaimed memoir Sit, Stay, Heal: What Dogs Can Teach Us About Living Well celebrates the human-animal bond and has been featured extensively on national media outlets, including Good Morning America.

In her free time, she enjoys giving back to the community in various projects, antiquing, cooking, gardening, listening to her son play the piano, and hanging with Dusty, her bossy 7-year-old female boxer.

“I am overjoyed and honored to be able to join the team at ACCC,” she said. “As the largest practice in the country solely focused on oncology, the company provides the perfect chance for me to contribute to the battle against animal cancer.”

Dr. Correa Honored by March of Dimes 

Congratulations to our own Dr. Stephanie Correa for being honored as a Woman of Distinction in November by the March of Dimes. She joins an esteemed group of more than 260 women leaders in South Florida who have been recognized for their career achievements and contributions to the local community.

Dr. Stephanie Correa and ACCC CFO Tony Correa

Dr. Stephanie Correa (left) with her mother, Connie Shank

Join Our Team

Join the Animal Cancer Care Clinic team and become a vital part of a compassionate community dedicated to transforming the lives of pets facing cancer. Embrace a fulfilling career where your passion for animals meets cutting-edge veterinary oncology, and where every day brings the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

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ACCC@AnimalCancerCareClinic.com • South FL 954-527-3111 • Central FL 407-930-6679