Symptom Management Service

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The Symptom Management Service (SMS) offers consultations to improve the quality of life and care for patients at UCSF’s Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.



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Patient Referral Information

Call 415-885-SMS1 (415-885-7671) Monday-Friday coverage only 8:00am – 4:30pm, except holidays

For urgent needs please call your oncologist office directly.

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Our Team

Meet the doctors, nurses, and other professionals who provide your care.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why have I been referred to SMS?

Patients are referred to SMS by their primary oncologists, for treatment and counseling for both physical and emotional symptoms caused as a result of cancer. This includes treatment for pain, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and emotional distress.

Can I continue to see my primary doctor or oncologist while seeing the Symptom Management Team?

Yes, the SMS interdisciplinary team offers treatments that include integrated medical, psychological, social work, and spiritual approaches working hand in hand with your regular cancer care. All SMS care is coordinated along with your cancer treatments and with the support of your cancer provider.

What should patients and caregivers do about filling prescriptions?

To refill prescriptions that cannot wait until the next scheduled doctor visit, please call (415) 885 -7671 (select option 1) at least 3 business days before the medication is gone to speak with an SMS practice coordinator about getting it replenished.

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Locations

Mission Bay.  [directions and parking] Bakar Precision Cancer Medicine Building 1825 4th St. San Francisco, CA 94158

Mount Zion     [directions and parking] 1600 Divisadero, 4th Floor Outpatient Side San Francisco, CA 94115

Parnassus. [directions and parking] 400 Parnassus Avenue San Francisco, CA 94143

Patients are seen via telehealth and in person. For questions about your appointment, please contact 415-885-7671.

More about Symptom Management

The SMS provides treatment and counseling for physical and emotional symptoms of cancer, to help people live as well as possible. Assistance includes help with pain, fatigue, depression, anxiety, advanced-care planning and spiritual issues. Treatments integrate medical, psychological, social work and spiritual approaches, which are offered along with regular cancer care. Care is coordinated with cancer treatments and with the support of patients’ oncology team. The SMS sees patients in clinic, by video telemedicine, and in their homes.

Your SMS team works closely with your oncology team and some oncology practices have established special programs in the SMS for their patients:

  • SMS in the UCSF Brain Tumor Center - for patients with brain tumors
  • SMS in Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) - for patients with hematologic malignancies
  • Geri-Pall - for older patients with lung cancer
  • SMS in Head & Neck Oncology – for patients with upcoming surgery