Music has been proven in research to have healing capabilities for cancer patients—physically, emotionally, and mentally. Listening to music and music therapy can help patients cope with diagnosis, treatment, support recovery, and improve quality of life.
A Cochrane review comprised of 81 trials with 5576 patients in 2021 looked at all studies using music therapy to help patients with cancer. The results suggested that music therapy can help with depression, hope, fatigue and pain in adults with cancer. The results of two of the trials suggest that music may have a beneficial effect on anxiety in children with cancer. As a result, some cancer centers such as MD Anderson and City of Hope (formerly Cancer Treatment Centers of America) offer music therapy for their cancer patients.
Here are the six healing benefits of music:
- Reduces stress and anxiety. A cancer diagnosis and cancer treatments can significantly impact patient wellness and mental health. A growing body of research reveals that music can relieve cancer patient’s anxiety and stress. In an analysis of 21 studies, it was found that music therapy can significantly impact anxiety, depression, and pain, and improve mood and spiritual well-being in cancer patients.
Music therapy can reduce patient anxiety before a CT scan, before during and after chemotherapy, and before surgery or a difficult procedure. And I can testify to that.
Before my first surgery, a nurse reminded me that I would need to be awake for a difficult procedure. The radiologist would be placing wires through my breast to mark both tumors. He could do a better job if I was awake to respond to his instructions. To alleviate my anxiety, the nurse gave me earphones to calm my fears. She asked, “What’s your favorite music that helps you to relax?” She asked.
“Contemporary Christian,” I replied. The first song that came through those earphones was “I Am Not Alone” by Kari Jobe. The song speaks of how God is always with us as we walk through trials in life. I breathed a sigh of relief as peace and comfort were circulating throughout my body. The lyrics and music of this song helped me to endure this procedure. The radiologist had me right where he wanted me—relaxed and able to receive instructions from him.
Music lowers cortisol levels and can reduce anxiety before, during, and after treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation, and also before and after surgery. Studies have shown that 30 minutes of listening to relaxing music can decrease levels of stress hormones in the blood. Music is a powerful modulator of the human stress response. We’re talking about a safe remedy that is noninvasive with no side effects that does not involve drugs.
- Lowers pain. Music activates the brain areas involved in pain modulation. When cancer patients are engaged in listening to relaxing music or music therapy, they tend to have a reduced need for pain medication. Music-based interventions plus standard care were more effective in reducing cancer-related pain.
- Improves emotional well-being and mood. Did you know that music encourages the release of dopamine and endorphins? Spiritual music can deepen one’s connection to their faith. Hymns and Christian songs can refresh your soul, giving hope and inspiration while reminding you of the tenets of your faith.
There was no one who used the healing benefits of music in the Bible more than King David. He used music to minister to his soul many times. He also played his harp for King Saul to calm him down. Antidepressants were not available in those days, and music was the medicine that soothed the soul. Music can be like an antidepressant medication with no side effects.
At age 76, Joni Eareckson Tada is one of the oldest living quadriplegics in the world. Her love for music and its ability to lift her spirits is one of the secrets to her joy and longevity. I do not know anyone who’s faced such tough times with grace. Music has served as a healing agent for many years through multiple trials, including fighting cancer twice. Joni’s favorite songs are hymns that minister the words of God to her soul.
- Enhances quality of sleep. Gentle music before bedtime helps cancer patients sleep more soundly and reduces insomnia-related anxiety. Although music can help all patients, it can also help patients who are intubated and fully sedated. According to Mei Rui, assistant professor of neurosurgery and the director of Music-in-Medicine at MD Anderson, “Simply being in the same room while the music plays lowers levels of stress biomarkers and improves hemodynamic stabilities.”
- Supports immune and cardiovascular function. Music with a calming rhythm may lower heart rate and blood pressure. Some studies suggest it positively influences immune response by reducing stress-related suppression of immune function. Music can lower inflammation markers like IL-6 and AMGB-1. These hormonal and chemical effects improve immune stability during cancer treatments. Calming music increases parasympathetic activity, reduces heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension.
A study by Tenovus Cancer Care and the Royal College of Music found that singing in a choir for just one hour reduces stress, improves mood, and boosts immune proteins in people affected by cancer. Music can also restore hormonal and immunological balance.
- Improves physical and cognitive function. Music can touch every area of the brain. According to Dr. Daniel Levintin, “Music activates every area of the brain we have so far mapped. There’s no area of the brain that music doesn’t touch in some way.” Did you hear that? Wow!
Gabby Gifford used music therapy when recovering from a bullet to her brain. Sometimes people can’t say a word, but they can sing it! Professor Jennifer Bugos of the University of South Florida found that playing a Jsax or smaller saxophone improves respiration in adults with breathing issues and also sharpens their minds. Bugos believes that music interventions can help chemotherapy patients with cognitive impairment known as chemo-brain.
According to Mei Rui, “Listening to a mix of both familiar and unfamiliar music can help the brain recover from a stroke or surgery by stimulating oxygen and blood flow to critical brain regions. Different types of music target different pathways in the brain leading to stroke recovery.” This might surprise you even more. Surgeons perform certain tasks more accurately and efficiently when exposed to classical music. How many of you have had a surgeon play music while operating on you? My husband did a few years ago while undergoing a knee repair. Before they put him under, he heard hard rock music by Jimmy Hendrix. He asked, “Who’s playing that music? The attendant answered, “That’s what your surgeon uses when he operates on you.
As a result of all these benefits, more cancer centers are offering music interventions for their patients. MD Anderson even has scheduled music concerts for their cancer patients. Joni Eareckson Tada gave me advice for those undergoing chemotherapy in an interview I did with her after her cancer journey in 2013.
She said:
“Having a good frame of mind helps. Remember that the poisonous chemicals being infused into your body are there to kill a greater enemy—cancer. During chemotherapy, take a good inspirational book to read or bring a playlist of inspirational songs to keep your mind on things above.”
Research has found that patients who listened to music while undergoing chemotherapy had benefits of improved positive mood and reduced negative mood. So bring a playlist of your favorite songs with you to chemotherapy. It’s important that you relax and have a positive attitude when undergoing chemotherapy.
And I can’t think of any better music to listen to than spiritual music that gives you hope and inspiration. Well-chosen music has the power to console us in our depression and despair and liberate us from fear and worry. As with Joni, music has ministered to my soul during dark and challenging times. “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again,” by Danny Gokey is another song that carried me through my cancer journey. After all, God invented every good thing including music to uplift our souls.
Ali Le Vere said this:
“Music is an enveloping sanctuary that consoles us in our depression, and liberates us from the dark abyss of alienation and despair. It is a reprieve from the burdens we carry and a healing power to be reckoned with.”
And I couldn’t agree more, but I might add that spiritual music to me is even more healing.
How have you used music to enhance your health?
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Six Healing Benefits of Music for the Cancer Patient
For Your Health,
Ginny
Ginny Dent Brant is a speaker and writer who grew up in the halls of power in Washington, DC. She has battled cancer, ministered around the world, and served on the front lines of American culture as a counselor, educator, wellness advocate, and adjunct professor. Brant’s award-winning book, Finding True Freedom: From the White House to the World, was endorsed by Chuck Colson and featured in many TV and media interviews. Unleash Your God-Given Healing: Eight Steps to Prevent and Survive Cancer was released in May 2020 after her journey with cancer and was recently awarded the First Place Golden Scrolls Award for Memoirs, a finalist in Serious Writers Book of the Decade, and Second Place in both Selah Awards for Memoirs and Director’s Choice Award for Nonfiction at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer’s Conference. It recently received the Christian Authors Network’s (CAN) Gold Award for Excellence in Marketing for reaching 62.5 million people with a message of cancer prevention and survival. It was written with commentary from an oncologist and was featured on CBN’s Healthy Living Show, Atlanta Live, and CTN’s Homekeepers along with over 75 media outlets. Learn more and cancer and wellness prevention blog and book information at www.ginnybrant.com. Ginny is on YouTube
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***** This content is strictly the opinion of Ginny Brant and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Ginny Brant nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program. *****
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