The Power of Touch | Guest Post by Sian Sheppard

27 June 2025 — jessica-bailey

In this guest blog post, Sian Sheppard, founder of Feelgood Fitness, explores how gentle, intentional touch can play a vital role in healing during and after cancer – helping individuals to reconnect with their bodies and discover a sense of comfort, acceptance, and normality.

It is well known that touch is a powerful tool for everybody. Touch can be intimate, friendly, caring, reassuring and supportive. There is evidence that oxytocin is boosted in as little as 30 seconds when we are touched. This hormone is our natural ‘feel good’ hormone and enables us to bond with babies, other people and even our pets!

When going through cancer treatment it can be quite normal for a person to withdraw from touch. Being under constant touch from medical professionals and what can feel like endless appointments, takes its toll on a person. This can, unsurprisingly, cause a person to want to be left alone and not touched, even if it is a sign of affection. This is quite a normal response, and the person should not be made to feel guilty.

Another common thing that can happen is a disassociation from the affected area. By this we mean that the person going through the treatment, and even afterwards, might feel like that body part is no longer part of them. Operations can especially change the way skin and touch feel, and damage to nerves caused by treatments can also enhance this feeling. In cases where there is limb loss or scarring, the person may feel they cannot touch the area. Again, this is quite common, even if the affected area isn’t severe.

To help people get used to their new normality, and in some cases to help them heal both physically and mentally, touch can be very powerful. If the person doesn’t want to touch the area themselves, body workers can help. This might include massage therapists, scar therapists, beauticians and even hairdressers. These professionals can bring a safe and loving touch. Caring hands that don’t flinch away, but that can soothe the body, are incredibly powerful.

Touch, when applied correctly and with permission, can not only help a person start to feel normal again but also support them in accepting their body once more. Knowing that they are still beautiful, normal, and accepted is an incredibly important tool for healing. Human touch can help us to relax, but also to feel safe, and this is incredibly important when our bodies have experienced trauma.

Allowing a professional to touch, is a privilege and honour, particularly when that person is unable to let others touch them. Having an hour to get hair, nails, or just a treat massage goes a long way to making us feel better. It allows us time to switch off, feel normal and just be present in the moment. Something we all need, but that is especially important when fighting cancer.

Sian has worked in health and fitness since 2010 and runs her own studio in Bristol. As part of her offering she is trained in oncology massage and scar therapy. You can find out more about her services on her website www.feelgoodfitness.org. If you’d like to discover cancer treatments and services in your area, please search on Cancer Care Map’s homepage using your postcode.