How Music Therapy Is Changing Anxiety Care for Cancer Survivors

Kevin Liou, M.D.

Credit: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Living with and beyond cancer often means carrying anxiety long after treatment ends. While cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is considered the gold standard for managing anxiety in cancer survivors, it isn’t always accessible (or appealing) for everyone. New research results published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology suggest there may be another option that is just as effective and, for some patients, more approachable: music therapy.

In the study, music therapy reduced anxiety in cancer survivors as effectively as CBT, with benefits that lasted up to four months after therapy ended. In this interview with The Educated Patient, Kevin Liou, M.D., an integrative medicine specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the study’s lead author, explains how music therapy works, why it matters for patients and how it could expand access to evidence-based mental health care for cancer survivors. He emphasizes that music therapy is not simply listening to music, but a science-backed, personalized treatment delivered by trained professionals to help patients manage anxiety and stress over the long term.

For patients who may not be familiar with music therapy, how does it work, and how is it different from simply listening to music on your own?

Kevin Liou, M.D.: Music therapy is much more than simply listening to music on your own. It is a science-backed health profession, where credentialed professionals with specialized training use personalized music experiences to help patients achieve physical, emotional and cognitive goals. These music experiences include guided music listening but may also involve more active forms of music engagement, such as instrument playing, improvisation and songwriting. Music therapy is unique in that it integrates the therapeutic properties of music with other psychotherapy and behavioral techniques to manage symptoms and promote well-being.

This study found music therapy was just as effective as CBT for reducing anxiety in cancer survivors. Why is that comparison so important?

KL: Cognitive behavioral therapy is the first-line treatment for anxiety in cancer survivors, but some people may not have access to it or respond to this treatment approach; some may also be reluctant to pursue this option due to stigma surrounding psychotherapy. By demonstrating that music therapy is as effective as the gold standard treatment, this study has potential to provide patients and families with another evidence-based option to choose from and may help expand access to mental health services.

The benefits of music therapy lasted even four months after treatment ended. What does that tell us about its potential long-term impact?

KL: The findings suggest that music therapy continues to work beyond the treatment sessions themselves. Music therapy is not simply a temporary distraction — it can provide impactful experiences that stay with patients after the sessions and teach practical skills that people can continue to apply in their daily life to manage anxiety and stress.

What do we know about how music therapy affects the brain and nervous system in ways that may reduce anxiety and fatigue?

KL: Neuroscience research demonstrates that music affects brain regions responsible for mood regulation, motivation, arousal and alertness. Music therapy leverages these unique properties of music to reduce anxiety and stress and increase energy levels.

How could music therapy help reduce stigma or barriers that sometimes prevent patients from seeking mental health care?

KL: Music is a near-universal feature of humanity and can be found in almost all societies and cultures around the world. Since music exists in so many different forms, it can easily be personalized to resonate with people from all walks of life. The diversity and universality of music could potentially make this form of therapy more accessible and appealing than other conventional mental health treatments.

Based on these findings, how should patients start a conversation with their oncology team about music therapy or other integrative treatments?

KL: Around 50% of academic cancer centers and community hospitals offer music therapy or other music-based programs. If patients are looking for treatments for anxiety, they could ask their care teams if music therapy is offered at their cancer centers. There are also professional societies, such as the American Music Therapy Association, which may have directories of music therapists and the types of services offered. Our study shows that music therapy should be considered alongside other first-line options for anxiety treatments.