Resources & references

This qualitative study explores the lived experience of inter-active listening (IAL), an individualized music therapy experience in which the therapist plays music or sings while the patient engages through listening. The study found that a receptive music therapy referred to as IAL was associated, in cancer patients in an acute palliative care unit, with increased emotional and spiritual well-being and a greater sense of connection to self and others.

Read an article about the impact of sociodemographic risk on the reported benefits of a specific music therapy intervention, active music engagement (AME), for families with children undergoing treatment for cancer. Results suggested that families with higher risk experienced more benefits from AME than families with lower risk.

Discover how EEG data validated the positive effect of music therapy on emotional well-being, as well as reduction of breathing difficulties, anxiety, and fatigue for a group of cancer patients in a palliative care context. 

This study is about music therapy with adolescents undergoing chemotherapy.  A significant reduction in anxiety, nausea and vomiting was observed. Furthermore, perceived stress and psychological/physical wellbeing were improved in participants. 

Read an article exploring the use of music therapy during infusion therapy for cancer patients. Results found significant improvements in levels of anxiety, depression, tiredness, pain and wellbeing. Additionally, no significant differences were found between passive and active music therapy intervention protocols, and individuals with higher pre-session anxiety scores tended to choose passive interventions.

Music therapists work across populations and age groups to assist with pain management, from children during painful procedures to people at end-of-life care. Music therapists address acute, chronic as well as procedural pain.

Learn what music therapy is and how it can help individuals with cancer as per the American Cancer Society. Using a combination of music experiences and conversation, music therapy can help manage symptoms and process emotions among patients.

Read an article discussing the use of an online group music therapy intervention for adults undergoing cancer treatment. Results show that, in spite of the limitations of online interventions, participants found the intervention to be useful in supporting them through their treatments.

This article explores the effects of both group and individual music therapy sessions on cancer patients in Spain. Findings indicate a reduction of pain as well as enhancing relaxation, physical comfort, and emotional well-being.

This video features the story of a young patient's healing from leukemia, who benefitted from music therapy during her hospital stay. Testimonials from the child, the parents, the music therapist and a pediatrician are shown.

This systematic review indicates that music interventions compared to standard care may have beneficial effects on anxiety, depression, hope, pain, and fatigue in adults with cancer. The results of two trials suggest that music interventions may have a beneficial effect on anxiety in children with cancer. For several outcomes, music therapy interventions delivered by a trained music therapist led to consistent results across studies. The abstract is available in many languages. 

This research article evaluated how music therapy can help children, teenagers, and young adults with cancer and blood disorders. It determined that music therapy is highly beneficial to have in an interdisciplinary team to manage symptoms and provide psychosocial care.