A YouTube video of a woman doing the Twist during cancer treatment has grown into a nonprofit that has reached more than 288,000 people, with its flagship program now active in 26 states.
Jenna Benn Shersher, a Bryn Mawr resident and founder of Twist Out Cancer, was 29 when doctors found tumors in her chest in 2010. The diagnosis: gray zone lymphoma, a rare blood cancer that affects fewer than 300 Americans a year.
"At the time of my diagnosis in 2010, there was only a Wikipedia page with 1 sentence that said the disease has features of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma," Shersher told Rare Disease Advisor at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology conference. "There was no standard protocol. There wasn't a ton of research about this disease. It was a lonely place to be."
Isolated during intensive chemotherapy, Shersher turned to the one thing her body could still do. She queued up Chubby Checker's "The Twist," hit record and uploaded the clip. The response was immediate. Within days, thousands of people were posting their own versions.
That wave of support became the foundation for Twist Out Cancer, which Shersher launched as a 501(c)(3) in 2011.
Brushes with Cancer
The nonprofit's flagship program, Brushes with Cancer, pairs artists with cancer survivors, previvors and caregivers over six months. Each artist creates a work reflecting the participant's cancer journey.
To date, 1,704 people have participated in the program as an inspiration or artist, according to Rare Disease Advisor. In November 2025, 23 resulting artworks were displayed at the Old City Jewish Art Center in Philadelphia, CBS News Philadelphia reported.
Shersher also started a Facebook group for gray zone lymphoma patients after her diagnosis. It now has 500 members, including caregivers.
Philadelphia event this fall
Twist Out Cancer's Fall 2026 Art Exhibition & Celebration is set for Sunday, Nov. 15, in Philadelphia. The event will feature 20 artists, 20 personal cancer journeys, dinner, live music, dancing and a silent auction benefiting the organization's free programs. Tickets are on sale now through the Twist Out Cancer website.
The organization holds a Platinum Seal from Candid, indicating it meets the highest standards of nonprofit transparency. It has also partnered with the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation and Blueprint Medicines to extend art therapy services to additional rare-disease communities.
What's next
- Sunday, Nov. 15: Twist Out Cancer Fall Art Exhibition & Celebration, Philadelphia. Details at twistoutcancer.org.
