Music therapy and music medicine for pain management in cancer patients: a rapid review

Abstract

Cancer is a complicated and challenging disease that affects millions of individuals globally. Pain is a frequent symptom experienced by cancer patients. Pain activates the sympathetic nervous system which can impair quality of life, and cause anxiety, depression, helplessness, despair, and a plea for death. The most recent advances in contemporary cancer care include a focus on integrated and holistic thinking. Music therapy and music medicine have emerged as viable complementary therapies to pain management in cancer patients. This rapid review synthesizes existing literature to evaluate the effectiveness of music-based interventions in alleviating pain among individuals undergoing cancer treatment. A total of eight articles met inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The findings suggest that music therapy and music medicine show potential in reducing pain intensity, enhancing coping mechanisms, and improving overall well-being in cancer patients.