A Brush With Cancer; 10 Years of Sharing, Connecting and Healing

When Jenna Benn Shersher was diagnosed with Grey Zone Lymphoma at the age of 29, she was not sure if she would live to see another birthday. As a young adult facing a rare type of cancer, she started writing about her journey in a brutally honest and vulnerable way in hopes to connect with others also undergoing similar experiences. Midway through treatment, Jenna put out a call to action asking for people to join her on the virtual dance floor doing Chubby Checker's dance, 'The Twist.' Within a few days, thousands of people submitted videos of themselves 'twisting out cancer.' 



Jenna was determined to give back to the community that kept her afloat during her treatment. Twist Out Cancer was born: a space for individuals touched by cancer to share, connect, and heal together. Over 200,000 people have participated in Twist Out Cancer's community-wide programs that use creative arts as a way of healing, including Brushes With Cancer. This program pairs cancer previvors, survivors, and caregivers with artists to help share their stories.



This book highlights these stories of hope, perseverance, and resilience that took place over the last ten years.