The day I found out I was going to have to have a mastectomy was one of the worst days of my life," says Dana Byerlee, 35, who came to the UCLA Breast Center Santa Monica after her cancer recurred. "But my counselor at Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology was there with me during that. Just to have someone be there during these crazy moments of your life was so amazing. I feel like a lot of people don't take advantage of the center because you have your family and friends, but it's different to have someone who's not actually in your world to talk to, even about your family or friends sometimes. At the breast center, obviously there are the skills of being a doctor, but the heart and love that just came through everyone involved created a place of real healing. I wouldn’t ever want anyone to have to go through this, but I wish anyone who is could all come here and have my team. It was so hard, but UCLA has been the best thing to happen to me, and I'm grateful for it.

Tags: Breast Cancer, breast cancer, Cancer, cancer, healing, mastectomy, patient stories, Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology, UCLA Breast Center Santa Monica