Music Soothing Cancer Patients

In the most comprehensive international review yet, a team of scientists has found listening to music can reduce pain, lower blood pressure and heart rates in cancer patients. A team led by Associate Professor Dr Joke Bradt from Philadelphia’s Drexel University Creative Arts Therapies Department studied the effects of music on almost 2,000 cancer patients. What the review showed is that music listening and engagement in active music experiences can help reduce anxiety in patients and also can help lower their pain and improve their mood.

“It had a beneficial effect on some of their physiological responses such as heart rate and their respiratory rate, and their blood pressure, we can only assume that if a patient has much less anxiety and suffers from less pain that that’s going to aid them in their recovery but also in their dealing with the cancer treatments.”

It is the biggest review to tackle musical treatment for cancer sufferers, examining 30 trials in seven different countries from Iran to Taiwan to the United States. Dr Bradt says it covered a wide range of patients from those just diagnosed, to those in remission. Read the full article »»»»