In July 2025, during Ethnic Minority Cancer Awareness Month, Touchy-Feely launched Re:Body, a programme rooted in cultural sensitivity and lived experience. Ethnic Minority Cancer Awareness Month is often overlooked, receiving far less recognition than other awareness months, yet it is crucial for highlighting the disparities and inequities faced by ethnic minority communities in cancer care. Re:Body was created to fill that gap, serving as both a safe space and a bold act of visibility.
The intention was clear: to provide women – whether currently undergoing treatment, navigating survivorship, or even in the difficult waiting period of a diagnosis, with a chance to return to self, to return to body. Cancer impacts not just the physical, but also the emotional, hormonal, and neurological systems. For Black women especially, cultural taboos, inequities in healthcare, and lack of tailored support often intensify the isolation that comes with diagnosis. Spaces like ReBody are necessary to break that silence and to affirm that healing can be both medical and communal.
The day began with a deeply calming breath work and Pilates session, led by powerhouse clinical physiotherapist Stephanie, who specialises in supporting women’s nervous system and hormone health. Few understand how much cancer destabilises these systems, leaving women in constant states of stress, fear, or fatigue. Stephanie equipped participants with tools to regulate their breath and, in turn, their bodies; an act of reclamation after so much has been taken by illness.
This was followed by a nourishing brunch, where women could connect, share, and build bonds of sisterhood. Over brunch, Dr. Dorothy, a Black GP, led a live, practical demonstration on breast self-examination, crucial for women with larger breasts where tumours can be harder to detect. She also spoke powerfully on self-advocacy in healthcare, reminding women of the importance of being heard and taken seriously in medical spaces where they are too often overlooked.
Re:Body was more than a restorative event. It was a culturally competent, expert-led, community-rooted intervention. It reminded attendees that they are not alone, that their experiences matter, and that their health deserves attention and care. Women left not only calmer and renewed, but also equipped and empowered with knowledge, tools, and the confidence to face both their health journeys and society again.
Touchy-Feely events like Re:Body are vital as they serve a community that is often invisible in mainstream cancer support. They are about more than survival; they are about restoration, representation, and the power of coming together in spaces designed with the black experience in mind.
We would also like to take this moment to thank our sponsors L’Occitane and Victoria Secrets for kindly sponsoring products for this event. We are incredibly grateful for the continuous support that you give Touchy-Feely.
Impact
- 20+ women attended the first Re:Body event during Ethnic Minority Cancer Awareness Month.
- Participants represented a range of experiences: from those in active treatment, to survivors, carers, women in the anxious waiting period of diagnosis and those wanting to learn more about their body.
- Every attendee left with practical tools for nervous system regulation, self-advocacy, and breast self-examination.
- Women reported feeling seen, represented, and empowered in a culturally competent space designed specifically for them.
- Feedback highlighted the importance of continuing Re:Body quarterly, with participants calling it “necessary,” “empowering,” and “life-changing.”
Testimonials from Re:Body
“This event not only gave me insight but also equipped me with the knowledge and confidence to regularly check myself and spot signs early. I also feel like I understand my friend diagnosed a lot better; I can show up her.”
“This was such an amazing experience. Having a community where my experience with cancer is at the forefront is extremely important, and I am so thankful I was able to be part of this event.”
“I felt seen having a health professional explain the risks and effects of breast cancer. It highlighted how important it is for us to have raw conversations and build community.”
“From the moment I stepped in, I was beaming with excitement. This wasn’t just an event, it was a chance for me to choose myself. The little details, like the gifts, really mattered.”
“As a Black female survivor, I can’t explain how beneficial this event was. To be in a space specially curated for us, where I could ask questions without fear of judgement, was empowering.”
