Beyond the Diagnosis: The Positive Effects of Music Therapy for Cancer Patients

At Mount Sinai Medical Center’s Irma and Norman Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center, cancer care extends beyond treating disease. It also means supporting patients’ emotional and mental well-being throughout their treatment journey.

A recently published study from the Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center found that music therapy provided during chemotherapy and immunotherapy infusions was associated with significant improvements in anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain, and overall well-being among cancer patients. The findings, published in Supportive Care in Cancer, highlight the growing role of supportive care services in enhancing the patient experience.

The study followed 55 adult cancer patients during active infusion treatment. Working with a board-certified music therapist, patients participated in personalized sessions that included either active engagement through singing or playing instruments, or receptive experiences such as listening to music and guided relaxation. Across multiple visits, patients reported meaningful improvements in every area measured.

The study was led by Maria Hernandez in collaboration with the late Dr. Juan Paramo, a surgical oncologist and dedicated advocate for the program, and Dr. Luigi Cubeddu of Nova Southeastern University.

“This research reflects what we set out to build: cancer care without compromise,” said Steven N. Hochwald, MD, MBA, FACS, Brodie Family Director of the Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center and Chief of Surgical Oncology. “When we can demonstrate that something as universal as music measurably improves how patients experience treatment, it affirms that supportive care belongs alongside our most advanced clinical work.”

Researchers found that both forms of music therapy were equally effective, allowing the program to be adapted to each patient’s needs and preferences while maintaining its benefits.

“For someone facing cancer, the infusion chair can be one of the hardest places to sit, and music meets patients there,” said Maria Hernandez, Music Therapy Program Coordinator. “It gives them a way to express what words cannot, and it lets them feel something other than their diagnosis. My hope has always been that music therapy becomes more than a service. It becomes part of how patients remember their care.”

While the study serves as a foundation for larger clinical trials, it also reinforces Mount Sinai’s commitment to understanding and improving every aspect of the patient experience. Music therapy remains an active part of supportive care services offered weekly at the Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center.

To learn more about the Irma and Norman Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center’s support services, click here.