Social & Emotional Support for People Affected by Cancer

Video: Swissa Creative

Share. Connect. Heal.

Our Mission

Twist Out Cancer uses creative arts programming to provide social and emotional support to those who have been affected by cancer.

“Brushstrokes” by Giorgia Lupi

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“When you share – the world opens up”

Jenna Benn Shersher, Founder of Twist Out Cancer

Featured In The News & Media

Runway of Resilience 2024: Chicagoans impacted by cancer hit the runway this for a cause

Fox 32 Chicago

Jenna Benn Shersher describes the mission of Twist Out Cancer on the podcast Hubbard Helps Chicago Podcast

The Drive – 97.1

Brushes with Cancer is Featured in Sheridan Road Magazine

Sheridan Road Magazine

Featured Podcasts

Jorge Ginzo and Oscar Montoya

Inspiration Jorge Ginzo and Artist Oscar Montoya are part of the Brushes with Cancer program at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami. Jorge is a survivor of Colon cancer and in this episode, Jorge and Oscar share the unexpected similarities in their personal stories and how they continually advocate for early testing among men.

Merton Briggs and Matthew Eckerle

Inspiration Merton Briggs – from Newark, Delaware – shares his story as a Multiple Myeloma survivor and how he responded when he was only given a few months to live. As part of the Brushes With Cancer program, he was matched with artist Matthew Eckerle, who is from Fort Thomas, Kentucky. Their connection started on a zoom call, which led to a true admiration for one another and a life-long friendship.

Michelle Hobart and Angela Scalisi

In this episode, Inspiration Michelle Hobart shares her story as a breast cancer survivor and how she kept her diagnosis a secret to start, and then shared it with family and friends. As part of the Brushes With Cancer program, she was matched with artist Angela Scalisi. Their connection started on a zoom call, which led to a five hour walk together, and an everlasting friendship.

Bond Courtney and Rosa Henriquez

Bond Courtney and Rosa Henriquez discuss their experience participating in the Brushes with Cancer Winter 2025 program that will take place on March 15th at Writers Theater in Glencoe, Illinois.

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Featured Blog Posts

Brushes with Cancer: A Journey of Healing, Connection, and Art

Cancer takes and takes so much from us—our certainty, our time, our sense of control, sometimes it even our sense of self. But in the midst of trauma it can reveal something extraordinary: the resilience of the human spirit. I got involved with Brushes with Cancer because I believe in the power of storytelling, our

The Friendship Bridge

Ericka Weiffenbach first heard of Brushes with Cancer from the Bresties Women’s Group of Northern Illinois, which she joined after receiving her diagnosis. Still new, she felt alone and lacking a community of people going through a similar life change. At the time, she hadn’t shared her diagnosis publicly and she couldn’t escape the feeling

Take a Peek Behind the Scenes of Twist Out Cancer’s Clinical Programming: The Science and Magic

A cancer diagnosis brings with it an avalanche of emotions. Prime among them are ones that most people would assume like shock, sadness, and fear. But there are so many more types of emotions, and layers of nuance to each of them, experienced by survivors and caregivers. These include anticipatory grief, clarity, guilt or shame,

When Art Meets Grief: Re Jin Lee’s Tribute to Love and Loss

Art has the power to heal, inspire, and connect us in ways words often cannot. For acclaimed sculptor Re Jin Lee, participating in Twist Out Cancer’s Brushes with Cancer program was a profound experience that allowed her to use her artistic talents to support someone navigating the complexities of grief and cancer. Re Jin met