From the Guidelines
No, music therapy cannot directly kill cancer cells. Music therapy is a complementary approach that may help manage symptoms and improve quality of life for cancer patients, but it does not have direct cytotoxic effects on cancer cells 1. While music therapy can reduce stress, anxiety, pain, and potentially support immune function through psychological pathways, it should be used alongside conventional cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or immunotherapy, which are specifically designed to target and destroy cancer cells.
Key Points to Consider
- The benefits of music therapy for cancer patients are primarily psychological and emotional, helping to improve mood, reduce treatment-related distress, and enhance overall wellbeing during the cancer journey 1.
- Some studies suggest that reducing stress through approaches like music therapy might create a more favorable internal environment for conventional treatments to work effectively, but music itself does not have direct cancer-killing properties.
- A recent systematic review from 2021 examined the effects of music interventions on psychologic and physical outcomes in people with cancer and included a total of 81 trials, finding large effect sizes for music therapy and music-based interventions compared with standard care controls 1.
- Music therapy interventions offered by a trained music therapist may lead to more consistent results compared to listening to pre-recorded music, as suggested by a subgroup analysis 1.
- It is essential to note that music therapy should not be used as a replacement for conventional cancer treatments but rather as a complementary approach to improve the patient's quality of life and reduce symptoms.
From the Research
Music Therapy and Cancer Treatment
- Music therapy has been studied as a complementary treatment for cancer patients, aiming to improve their psychological and physical well-being 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The existing research suggests that music therapy can have positive effects on various outcomes, including anxiety, depression, pain, and quality of life 2, 3, 6.
Effectiveness of Music Therapy
- A systematic review and meta-analysis found that music therapy can significantly improve the overall quality of life, reduce anxiety, depression, and pain in patients with cancer 6.
- Another study found that music therapy can help reduce pain and anxiety in cancer patients, including those with colorectal cancer 3.
- Music therapy has also been shown to be beneficial in improving the quality of life in patients with cancer pain 5.
Limitations and Future Research
- Despite the promising results, there is a need for high-quality, randomized controlled trials to further determine the effects of music therapy in cancer care 4, 6.
- The lack of standardization in music therapy interventions and the limited availability of trained music therapists in lower- and middle-income countries are significant challenges 4.