Mena Granatino’s Story

How has breast cancer affected you?

Mena Granatino has always been private about her breast cancer story.

When she was going through treatment, she did not share much publicly. She did not post about it on Facebook. She did not want breast cancer to become the center of how people saw her.

“I don’t want to feel like a victim,” Mena says.

At the time, her instinct was to move through it quietly, do what she needed to do, and continue on with her life.

“I just wanted to do it and get it over with and move on with my life,” she says.

Now, nearly nine years later, Mena is still thoughtful about how much to share. But she also knows that telling her story may help another woman feel less alone, more supported, or even inspired to get involved.

 

What was your treatment experience like?

Mena was treated at Moffitt Cancer Center, which was about two hours from where she lived at the time.

She describes her care there as excellent. The team was responsive, and Mena felt grateful to have access to top-notch health care. She received chemotherapy at Moffitt and radiation closer to home in Fort Myers.

Her husband was by her side through all of it.

“My husband took me to every single one,” Mena says.

That support made a difference.

Mena knows that not everyone has the same experience. She had strong medical care, good insurance, and people around her who helped carry her through treatment. Because of that, she feels especially connected to Runway’s mission of supporting families who are navigating breast cancer with fewer resources or added financial strain.

 

Who supported you during treatment?

Mena remembers feeling deeply supported by her family and friends.

Her daughters-in-law sent her something every week during treatment: a small inspirational gift, a thoughtful note, or something to remind her that they were thinking of her.

“That was wonderful,” Mena says.

Her friends gathered around her too. Even people connected to her husband’s work sent notes, prayer boxes, and gestures of encouragement.

Those acts of kindness stayed with her.

“It makes you feel not as alone,” Mena says.

For Mena, support did not have to be complicated. It was the consistent reminders that people were thinking of her, praying for her, and walking alongside her that meant the most.

 

Why did you name your fundraising page Twin Blessings?

Mena’s fundraising page is called Twin Blessings.

The name carries more than one meaning.

When she found her breast cancer, she was spending time with her twin grandchildren, who were newborns at the time. They were a blessing in her life during an incredibly difficult season.

But the name also reflects the blessings that surrounded her during treatment: the people, support, care, and encouragement that helped her through.

And, with humor, Mena also connects the phrase to “the twins” themselves.

For Mena, the name holds gratitude, family, faith, and a little bit of lightness too.

 

Have you supported others through breast cancer?

Since her own diagnosis, Mena has been able to support other women facing breast cancer.

She has spoken with others during their treatment, offering encouragement and perspective from someone who has been through it herself.

For someone who has kept much of her own story private, that kind of quiet mentorship feels meaningful.

Mena knows how much support mattered to her, and she hopes to offer even a small piece of that to someone else.

 

What made you decide to share your story now?

Sharing publicly does not come naturally to Mena.

Even as she prepares for Runway, part of her still feels hesitant. But she also understands that stories can reach people in ways we do not always see.

Someone may read Mena’s story and recognize a piece of themselves. Someone may feel encouraged to get a mammogram, ask a question, support a friend, or feel less alone in their own experience.

That possibility matters to her.

“I would love to do this for other women,” Mena says.

For Mena, stepping onto the Runway stage is not about feeling like a victim. It is about honoring what she went through, celebrating the support that carried her, and helping remind others that they do not have to go through breast cancer alone.

 

What are we celebrating this year?

This year, we are celebrating Mena’s courage to share a story she has long held privately.

We are celebrating nearly nine years since breast cancer, the family and friends who surrounded her, the husband who drove her to every appointment, the daughters-in-law who sent weekly reminders of love, and the small gestures that helped her feel less alone.

We are also celebrating Mena’s willingness to turn her experience into connection for someone else.

This October, we are honored to welcome Mena to Runway for Recovery’s 20th Anniversary Show and celebrate the strength, gratitude, humor, and support woven throughout her story.