The Rhonda Fleming Mann Resource Center
Cancer and its treatments affect the mind, the body, and the soul. At the Rhonda Fleming Mann Resource Center for Women with Cancer, staff make certain that the whole person is cared for, not just the disease. The mission of the Center is to complement the outstanding medical care provided though the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA and to strive to improve the quality of life of women with cancer and their families. The Center was opened in 1994 and offers individual and family counseling, patient advocacy, a library of resources, groups for education and emotional support, and a lecture series entitled Insights Into Cancer.
With the help of a $50,000 Weingart Foundation grant, the Rhonda Fleming Mann Resource Center extended its reach to establish its newest program: Reflections.
The Center is an important resource for individuals with cancer because of the serious psychological impact that cancer and its treatments have on patients and their family members. A quality of life research study conducted by the director of the Center, Dr. Anne Coscarelli, found that a majority of women treated for breast cancer were uncomfortable with the changes in their body image.
The Center is dependent on philanthropic support and is guided by the words of its founding Benefactors Ted Mann and Rhonda Fleming Mann: "Caring, compassion, communication and commitment."
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A Holistic Approach to Treating Disease
In a comfortable atmosphere, with specially trained Reflections staff and volunteers, women, men, and children receive information, resources, and products to help
manage the often devastating changes in physical appearance caused by cancers and their treatments.
This is just one of many findings illustrating the ways that cancers and their treatments can temporarily or permanently change patients. Now these women--as well as men and children--have a place to go for help in minimizing the physical changes. The Center cares for approximately 250 patients each month. This number will grow with the addition of Reflections.