10/17/2025
Not all heroes wear capes; some wear pink!
During October, we would like to highlight the resilience and perseverance of the incredible Baptist Cancer Center breast cancer survivors who attended the recent Memphis Grizzlies Breast Cancer Awareness Night game.
We look forward to sharing a little about them and their inspiring stories throughout the month.
Today, we honor
🩷 Saprena Hagan — A triple-negative breast cancer survivor diagnosed in 2021. Throughout her journey, she has beaten many odds, not just with her health history, but also in her personal life. She has successfully completed treatment — all while continuing to take care of her adult autistic son. We believe her story is one to share and celebrate. Saprena stresses the importance of early detection and says that self-exam and routine mammograms are much easier and less painful than a fractured sternum.
🩷 Debra Askew — A mother of two children and three grandchildren, she was diagnosed with breast cancer this summer and is just starting her treatments. She is strong and ready to take on chemotherapy and radiation therapy. An advocate for self-care, she encourages women to eat healthy, exercise and get their mammograms because she knows they can help diagnose cancer early!
🩷 Monique Rials — Triple-negative breast cancer survivor diagnosed in 2023 at age 42. She went through a year of chemotherapy and immunotherapy and had a double mastectomy. After discovering the lump in her breast herself, Monique is now an advocate for self-exams and encourages women to trust their instincts and, if something feels abnormal, get it checked out. "Early detection saves lives!"
To learn more about Baptist Cancer Center's team and their efforts to treat and cure breast cancer, visit https://www.baptistcancercenter.com.
