Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

Several studies have shown that music therapy can play a significant role in decreasing cancer pain.  One type of incurable cancer is mesothelioma, which is a cancer caused when asbestos fibers lodge in the lining of the heart, abdomen or lungs.  Mesothelioma symptoms and side effects from mesothelioma treatments can cause patients quite a bit of pain.  Palliative versus curative treatment is always the focus for mesothelioma since, to date, there is no known cure.

Music therapy has been shown to address not only physical but also physiological, psychological, social and spiritual needs as well.  With this type of therapy, health care professionals use music to promote healing, increase quality of life, encourage emotional expression and social interaction, and relieve physical pain. 

Music therapy is particularly useful when used with conventional treatments to relieve stress, which adds to an overall increased sense of well-being, leading to reduced physical pain.  Studies show scientific evidence of how music therapy reduces heart rates, breathing rates, and blood pressure.  Music therapy is also used in conjunction with chemotherapy to help alleviate anxiety and associated nausea and vomiting.

A recent study searched and reviewed all articles and research regarding music therapy between 1990 and 2008.  The results found that music therapy indeed proves to be helpful in treating short-term and acute pain, reducing the patient’s experience of pain, and decreasing depression.  Some studies also showed reduced need to use pain relieving medications.

For thousands of years, music, singing, and chanting have been used in medicine across cultural settings.  Over sixty five years ago, Michigan State University started the first established music therapy degree program.  Music therapy includes:

• making music
• listening to music
• song writing
• imagery

Music therapy is easily adapted to individual preferences and requires no musical talent.  Music is seen as prescriptive and can ease symptoms of pain, restlessness, agitation, sleeplessness and labored breathing, all common to a diagnosis of mesothelioma.

This latest study, that systematically reviewed all the literature regarding efficacy of music therapy, concludes that it is effective and appropriate for use in easing cancer pain and recommends more research into music therapist’s individual roles and the different approaches used.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and are undergoing treatments, talk to your palliative nurse or hospice advocate about adding music therapy to your treatment plan.   You can also read more and ask for referrals to music therapists in your area by contacting the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org or calling toll free at 1-800-227-2345.