When words are not enough: how music helps to live after cancer
Defeating cancer does not always mean ending the fight. Even after the end of treatment, many people continue to face anxiety, fear of the return of the disease, a feeling of loneliness and the need to rebuild their usual lives. A new study has shown that co-writing songs with a music therapist helps cancer patients talk about experiences they haven't been able to put into words for a long time. About why music becomes a tool of psychological support after cancer and how it helps to cope with the emotional consequences of the disease — in the material of Izvestia.
A song instead of a conversation
Researchers from Drexel University analyzed songs created by participants in the MELODY project, one of the largest studies on music therapy for cancer survivors. The researchers studied 26 compositions written by patients during classes with certified music therapists to understand what experiences people put into their lyrics. The results are published in the journal Medical Xpress.
It turned out that the songs were not only about anxiety related to illness. In them, the participants talked about the search for a new identity after treatment, the need to learn how to take care of yourself, changed relationships with loved ones and attempts to find a new meaning in life. According to the authors of the paper, many of these topics rarely come up during normal conversations.
Sarah Biedka, PhD student at the Laboratory of Music, Creativity and Health at Bradt College
Several songs described how overcoming one problem often led to new problems in other areas of life, especially in relationships. In fact, participants described feeling like they had to choose between meeting their needs and maintaining the status quo in the relationship. Before the MELODY project, these participants mostly chose relationships over their needs, which led to feelings of isolation and resentment.
During the project, the patients composed songs together with a music therapist. The researchers note that this format helped participants not only express complex feelings, but also to better understand their own experiences. Some admitted that for the first time they were able to voice thoughts that they had not previously shared even with their relatives.
The analysis also showed that music therapy — in this case, the songwriting process — helped people feel heard. One of the participants told the researchers that while working with a therapist for the first time, he experienced the feeling that he was really being listened to and understood. The authors believe that this is what makes the creative process an important part of psychological support after treatment.
Life doesn't always return to the same after treatment.
The end of treatment does not mean that a person no longer needs help. In oncology, there is even a separate concept — cancer survivorship, or life after cancer. It describes the period that begins immediately after the completion of active treatment and lasts for the rest of a person's life.
It is at this time that many patients face new difficulties. In addition to the physical effects of therapy, they may experience anxiety, fear of relapse, feelings of uncertainty, changes in self-esteem, and difficulties in relationships with loved ones. Some admit that others consider them to be fully recovered, although emotionally they continue to experience the consequences of the disease.
The authors of the study note that many people avoid such conversations. Some people don't want to bother their relatives, while others are afraid of being misunderstood or rejected. That is why such experiences often remain unspoken, despite the fact that they continue to affect the quality of life.
Sarah Biedka
Avoiding difficult conversations is a serious problem for cancer survivors, so writing songs can be one of their key benefits.
According to the researchers, effective support for cancer patients should take into account not only individual anxiety attacks, but also the entire range of social, emotional and personal changes that a person faces after completing treatment.
Music helps to express things that are difficult to explain.
The researchers emphasize that music therapy is not just listening to your favorite songs. During classes, patients work together with a certified specialist: they discuss their experiences, come up with lyrics, choose a melody, and gradually turn their own emotions into a finished work. This process helps to structure thoughts and safely talk about complex feelings.
During the interview, many participants said that they felt proud and satisfied after completing the song. The created composition became something personal — a way to preserve one's own story, regain a sense of control over life and feel one's individuality again.
Another important advantage was that it turned out to be easier to share a song with other people than a normal conversation. Some participants used their compositions to tell their relatives about their experiences, which they did not dare to voice directly for a long time. According to the authors of the study, this may be one of the main advantages of this approach.
At the same time, scientists emphasize that music therapy does not replace medical treatment or psychotherapy. However, the results of the MELODY project and subsequent research show that it can become an important part of comprehensive care for people after cancer treatment, helping them cope with anxiety and the emotional consequences of the disease.
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