---
title: "Malaka's Persistent Scheduler Call Helped Save Her Life | Sutter Health"
description: "Malaka almost skipped her mammogram, but a caring scheduler's persistent call led to an early breast cancer catch—now she's thanking her care team."
url: "https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/breast-cancer-survivor-thanks-her-care-team"
---

1.  [Home](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/) /
2.  [Patient stories](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories) /
3.  Breast Cancer Survivor Thanks Her Care Team

# 'Angels Walking the Planet': Cancer Survivor Thanks Care Team

Malaka almost skipped her mammogram, but a caring scheduler's persistent call led to an early breast cancer catch—now she's thanking her care team.

June 23, 2023 by Emma Dugas

Malaka’s life took an unexpected turn the year she turned 40. She found a lump in her breast, but she thought it was a cyst that would go away on its own. Her doctor requested a mammogram, but she was busy with work and family. Then a scheduler called and encouraged her to come in. That caring call – and her compassionate care team – helped save her life.

Now a breast cancer survivor, Malaka says she’s forever grateful for the team’s persistence and exceptional care!

## Topics

[Breast Cancer](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/search?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_healthTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Breast+Cancer%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=articles)

## Breast cancer

Early detection and comprehensive care are key to your long-term health. If you're facing a breast cancer diagnosis, our specialists can provide advanced treatment, personalized support and a clear path forward.

[Learn more about Breast cancer](https://www.sutterhealth.org/services/breast-cancer)

## Related articles

### [Not Your Momma’s Mammogram. How AI Helps Modernize Screening.](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/research-innovation/not-your-mommas-mammogram-how-ai-helps-modernize-screening)

### [Check it Out: Shoppers Enhance Breast Cancer Services](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/community-impact/check-in-out-shoppers-enhance-breast-cancer-services)

### [At the register, small gifts add up for breast cancer patients](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/community-impact/small-gifts-add-up-for-breast-cancer-patients)

### [‘I’m Still Me’: Innovative Breast Cancer Surgery Helps East Bay Mom Move Forward](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/im-still-me-innovative-breast-cancer-surgery-helps-east-bay-mom-move-forward)

[See all from Patient stories](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories)

## Check your Vitals

Get the latest in health innovation, community impact and patient care from Sutter Health — delivered straight to your inbox.

[Subscribe to Vitals](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/subscribe)

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]}
```

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","name":"Malaka's Persistent Scheduler Call Helped Save Her Life","description":"Malaka almost skipped her mammogram, but a caring scheduler's persistent call led to an early breast cancer catch—now she's thanking her care team.","url":"https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/breast-cancer-survivor-thanks-her-care-team","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/breast-cancer-survivor-thanks-her-care-team#breadcrumblist"}}
```

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","@id":"https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/breast-cancer-survivor-thanks-her-care-team#article","url":"https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/breast-cancer-survivor-thanks-her-care-team","headline":"Malaka's Persistent Scheduler Call Helped Save Her Life","description":"Malaka almost skipped her mammogram, but a caring scheduler's persistent call led to an early breast cancer catch—now she's thanking her care team.","articleSection":"Patient stories","inLanguage":"en-US","datePublished":"2023-06-23T08:35:54-07:00","dateModified":"2026-11-04T13:27:44-08:00","author":[{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Person","name":"Emma Dugas"}],"publisher":{"@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org"},"abstract":"Malaka almost skipped her mammogram, but a caring scheduler's persistent call led to an early breast cancer catch—now she's thanking her care team.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/Vitals/patient-stories/Malaka-e1703136339603-9ba91a96.jpg?h=365&iar=0&w=525","width":"525","height":"365","caption":"'Angels Walking the Planet': Cancer Survivor Thanks Care Team"},"thumbnailUrl":"https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/Vitals/patient-stories/Malaka-e1703136339603-9ba91a96.jpg?h=365&iar=0&w=525","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/#website","name":"Vitals - Sutter Health","url":"https://vitals.sutterhealth.org"},"mainEntityOfPage":"https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/breast-cancer-survivor-thanks-her-care-team","about":[{"@type":"Thing","name":"Breast cancer"},{"@type":"Thing","name":"Mammogram"}],"keywords":["Breast Cancer"]}
```

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/breast-cancer-survivor-thanks-her-care-team#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Patient stories","item":"https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Breast Cancer Survivor Thanks Her Care Team"}]}
```