Navigating Lung Cancer With Heart

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

For lung cancer survivor Calli Keller, 51, of Sacramento, and registered nurse Jodi Bobbitt, those words by poet Maya Angelou became a shared mantra. Keller says the quote reflects the compassion and personalized care she experienced through Sutter’s advanced cancer services. From diagnosis to recovery, she found strength, support and a “soul sister” in Bobbitt.

A member of Sutter’s facility dog team greeting Keller during treatment.

The Lung Nodule and Cancer Screening Program is pivotal to Sutter’s patient-centered care, offering a highly coordinated approach that combines comprehensive treatment with personalized guidance — so patients like Keller never feel alone in their cancer care journey. The team, including Bobbitt, work collaboratively across disciplines to:

• Develop easy-to-follow guides and care plans for people who have unexpected spots on their lungs or urgent findings during a lung cancer screening.
• Order follow-up imaging and coordinate referrals to specialists in Sutter’s cancer, surgery and pathology teams.
• Help patients understand their test results and recommended follow-up plans, guiding them seamlessly through the care process for simple navigation and continuous support.

“I bonded with her instantly,” Keller said. “She felt like family.”

For Bobbitt, a second-generation oncology nurse, Angelou’s words have long guided her work. “I’ve always used the quote as a reminder of how to treat everyone I meet,” she said. “It’s how I show up for patients and my team.”

Personalized Care and Connection

In 2023, after experiencing a persistent cough, Keller — who has never smoked — sensed something was wrong and visited her primary care physician, who ordered a chest X-ray. When the scan raised concern, Bobbitt acted quickly arranging an urgent referral and connected Keller with an oncologist. Shortly after, Keller was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer, just weeks before her 50th birthday.

“It felt really good to have someone in my corner,” said Keller. “Her support gave me peace of mind throughout the process.”

Nurse navigators do far more than handle administrative or clinical tasks — they serve as a link between patients and their families, the care team and community partners. With more than 40 specialists at Sutter, navigators connect patients to resources like nutrition support, transportation and clinical trial options, bridging gaps so patients can concentrate on their health and recovery.

For Keller, emotional support made all the difference during treatment. “Jodi made me look forward to chemotherapy infusions,” she said. “Her passion and dedication were contagious and helped me through my toughest days.”

Bobbitt credits her mother, who was an oncology nurse for almost four decades, for igniting a “spark” of compassion within her from an early age. Even as a young girl, Bobbitt knew she wanted a career with purpose, where she could actively support people in their time of need.

“Every patient’s journey is unique, and so is their care. Treating lung cancer means caring for the person behind the diagnosis,” says Bobbitt. “Lung cancer has long carried a stigma as being a smoker’s disease — a stigma we must erase — because anyone with lungs can develop lung cancer.”

Turning Challenges Into Triumph

Keller completed lung cancer treatment in April 2024. Her disease is stable and she’s enjoying life one day at a time — renovating a Victorian home that once belonged to her grandmother — which she hopes to turn into an animal sanctuary when completed.

The pair stays true to their mantra, championing lung cancer research through fundraising efforts in the community. For Bobbitt, connecting patients with valuable resources is key, while Keller sees it as a meaningful way to pay it forward.

“I want to be a beacon of hope for others,” said Keller. “Proof that even with a lung cancer diagnosis, there’s strength and light ahead.”