Music Helps Cancer Patients Connect and Socialize with Others

For most of us, music plays a major part of our everyday lives and has a direct impact on our emotional and physical well being. A recent study also shows that for young cancer patients in particular, music can have a direct influence on how individuals cope with the disease.

According to researchers from the Indiana University School of Nursing, they monitored a group of patients aged 11 to 24 as they tried to produce music videos over a period of three weeks. All patients involved in the study were undergoing high-risk stem-cell transplant treatments during the time of the study.

During the research, young patients were required to write song lyrics as well as record songs with the help of a qualified music therapist to produce and edit the videos.

Findings showed that nearly100 days after the videos were made, the patients who completed the music videos were typically more easily able to communicate with family and friends regarding their life situation and future outlook than those who did not participate in music therapy.   

"These protective factors influence the ways adolescents and young adults cope, gain hope and find meaning in the midst of their cancer journey," said lead study author Dr Joan Haase, of Indiana University School of Nursing, according to BBC."Adolescents and young people who are resilient have the ability to rise above their illness, gain a sense of mastery and confidence in how they have dealt with their cancer, and demonstrate a desire to reach out and help others."

More information regarding the study can be found via the journal Cancer.