Music Therapy Cancer

Music Therapy Cancer Treatments

One of the most interesting applications of music therapy is in cancer treatment. Music therapy cancer treatments are very helpful to a wide variety of patients who suffer from a large range of cancers. While music therapy cancer treatments don’t actually affect the disease itself – meaning that the tumor will not show any physical signs of improvement – the treatments and therapies will greatly affect the mood of the patient, and sometimes that can make all the difference in the way the patient deals with and feels about the disease.

The American Cancer Society has published several articles about the benefits of music therapy cancer treatments. One from 2004 discusses some of the more specific research done on cancer patients who have received music therapy. The music therapy cancer treatments used were diverse, as were the types of cancers that the patients suffered from. Most of the patients in the study suffered from multiple myeloma, Hodgkin disease, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The reason the study chose to work with these particular cancer patients is because they were undergoing typical medical cancer treatments like autologous stem cell transplant and high-dose chemotherapy. These treatments are exceptionally rigorous on the patient, causing symptoms like anorexia, fevers, and fatigue. But more than these problems, most intense are the emotional rigors of the treatments. These were the symptoms that were best helped by the music therapy cancer treatments.

The music treatments commonly used to treat cancer patients are varied; however, most patients in this study received music therapy in the form of live music played by a trained music therapist. The results of the music therapy cancer treatments in this particular study were fascinating. According to the researchers, patients reported a great improvement in mood. The more anxious patients reported a lessening of their anxiety symptoms. Meanwhile, patients who were experiencing other mood-lowering symptoms like depression reported having an overall elevated mood.

Because of all of the positive results from the multiple successful music therapy cancer treatments used all over the country, music therapy is now offered in many hospitals. There are more therapies than just the live music therapy discussed above. Some patients have used music therapy cancer treatments like music activities. Music activities – often involving writing song lyrics or playing an instrument – have been shown to greatly decrease anxiety in cancer patients. Of course, as with all types of therapy, these music therapy cancer treatments should be done with the help of a trained music therapist. Music therapists work with the individual patient to find the best therapies for that patient.

Music Therapy Activities

What are Some Music Therapy Activities?

Music therapy activities are much more varied than it seems.  Though it would be reasonable to think that music therapy would consist of music, the extent to which music can be used is far more expansive.  From lyrics to dance, musical backgrounds and song sharing, music therapy activities can be custom fit to the patient they are meant to help.  But learning more about each of these techniques can help patients and therapists get ahead of the problem and start getting to the solutions.

Using song lyrics is one of the more common music therapy activities in rehabilitative and counseling sessions.  By writing lyrics about difficult things in your life, you might be able to see connections and solutions to your own problems.  The therapists might have to rewrite the lyrics to a particular song you enjoy or to a song that you feel is similar to your feelings at the time.  You might also be asked to write lyrics to a song about the life you want to create for yourself – whether this is related to psychological or physical changes.

Dancing to music is another way to encourage people to work through a number of problems.  In the physical therapy setting, dancing and moving to the music are music therapy activities that can bolster strength as well as moods.  By slowly working your way up to more strenuous activities, a patient can begin to feel more confident in their ability to move while also gaining strength and stamina along the way.  With upbeat music, it’s easier for people to continue working out too as they can feel inspired by the tempo or the lyrics in the songs they choose.

Just playing soft music in the background of a therapeutic session can be considered one of the more positive and practical music therapy activities.  Every wonder why elevators always play soft and soothing music?  Because this helps people relax and not worry so much about the elevator malfunctioning.  On the opposite side of the music gamut, playing harder, louder and faster music can increase the heart rate and cause the person listening to make decisions more quickly than they should – that’s why many stores play loud and penetrating music.

Therapists might also use music therapy activities that include sharing songs that the patient or the therapist feel are relevant to their discussions.  By taking time to share a song, the patient doesn’t have to talk as much about what they feeling, letting the music speak for them.

There are many music therapy activities that can help the patient reach their goals and the therapist to communicate in a positive and successful way.