When we talk about cancer treatment, we usually think of the “cold” stuff: the sterile hospital rooms, the humming of the MRI machines, and the heavy terminology of oncology. But anyone who has actually sat in those chairs knows that the medical side is only half the battle. There is a massive, quiet weight that comes with a diagnosis one that involves your mental health, your family’s stress, and even your spiritual well being.
This is exactly the gap that the Simms Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology has been filling for over 30 years.
What Makes It Different?
Most people call it Simms Mann, and it isn’t your typical charity that just writes checks for research (though research is vital). Instead, it’s a place that focuses on the person, not just the patient.
While the surgeons and oncologists at UCLA focus on removing or shrinking the tumor, the Simms Mann team focuses on everything else. They provide what they call “integrative care,” which is a fancy way of saying they look at the whole picture. This includes:
Psychosocial Support: Specialized counseling to help people process the “Why me?” and the “What now?”
Nutrition: Helping people figure out what to eat when treatment makes everything taste like metal or kills their appetite.
Spiritual Care: Not necessarily religious, but helping people find meaning and peace during the hardest months of their lives.
The Logistics: Helping families navigate the nightmare of medical bills and insurance paperwork.
The “No Bill” Philosophy
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Simms/Mann is that they offer the vast majority of these services free of charge.
In the American healthcare system, that is almost unheard of. Usually, if you want to see a specialized therapist or a nutritionist during chemo, you’re looking at another co-pay or a denied insurance claim. Because of the Simms Mann Family Foundation and a steady stream of private donors, patients can walk into the center and get the help they need without reaching for their wallets.
Why It Matters Right Now
As we move through 2026, the world of oncology is getting more high tech than ever. We have incredible new targeted therapies and AI driven diagnostics. But no matter how advanced the medicine gets, it can’t hold a patient’s hand or help a father explain his diagnosis to his kids.
The Simms Mann Center remains a reminder that healing is a human process. It’s about more than just “beating” a disease; it’s about maintaining a sense of self while you do it.
