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1 in 3 cancer patients suffer from anxiety as a result of treatment, with symptoms such as worry, poor sleep, and muscle tension. While there are pharmaceutical remedies for this, many cancer patients also have higher rates of polypharmacy from taking 5 or more medications, often leading to adverse effects due to interactions between drugs.

Researchers and physicians at MSK are thinking outside of the box, looking towards non-pharmacological therapies, such as Music Therapy, to help patients with symptoms of anxiety.

Music Therapy (MT) is a nonphamacological and evidence-based intervention in which music therapist create personalized experiences for each of their patients to help them reach therapeutic goals. Sessions may include singing and improvisation. Such experiences are providing patients with a sense of community, as well as a creative outlet while they are receiving treatments. Further, writing songs about their experiences provides patients with space to process traumatic experiences that they may have difficulty talking about. In addition to these physiological benefits, MT also provides biological benefits, further alleviating anxiety.

MT is becoming increasingly popular and more accessible to patients throughout the US through the use of Telehealth services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of these resources increased by 8700%.Studies have continued to show that digital delivery of this therapy is just as impactful as in-person sessions.

Multiple researchers funded by Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research have contributed to the Music Therapy Versus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Cancer-related Anxiety (MELODY) study at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). Karen Popkin, LCAT, MT-BC, whose music therapy activities have been supported by Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation, provided music therapy interventions for this study and co-wrote the music therapy portion of the clinical protocol. She also shared that she is currently working on a new trial that will be partially funded by support from Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation. Further, Kevin Liou, MD, presented results from the MELODY trial at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual meeting in Chicago earlier this month. He shared results highlighting that Music Therapy is just as effective as Cognitive Behavior Therapy in treating cancer patients with anxiety.

In an interview with ABC News, Dr. Liou and MSKCC patient and DJ, Cynthia Malaran, shared their insights on the benefits of MT. Cynthia shared her experiences as a Breast Cancer patient and how MT provided her with new inspiration for her music, as she was now able to express emotions and experiences that she could not put into words. She encourages other patients to seek out similar treatment.