The findings come from a qualitative analysis of 26 original songs written by adult cancer survivors during the Music Therapy Versus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Cancer-related Anxiety, or MELODY, trial. The study, led by Sarah Biedka, a PhD candidate in Drexel’s Music, Creativity and Wellness Lab, examined the lyrics, recordings and songwriting materials produced during music therapy sessions. Published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship, the research found that participants used music to express concerns extending well beyond anxiety symptoms, including disrupted identities, strained relationships, difficulty prioritizing self-care and the search for meaning after cancer.

The songs were created as part of a larger clinical trial involving 300 cancer survivors experiencing anxiety. Participants received one of two telehealth interventions: cognitive behavioral therapy, widely regarded as the standard psychological treatment for anxiety, or music therapy delivered by credentialed music therapists. In the music therapy sessions, participants engaged in structured musical activities and wrote songs collaboratively with a therapist. The MELODY trial reported that music therapy helped reduce cancer-related anxiety, while the new analysis explored what participants were actually trying to process through their creative work.

According to the researchers, songwriting revealed a network of challenges that conventional symptom-based assessments can miss. Several participants described a conflict between responding to their own needs and maintaining stability in their relationships. After cancer, survivors may need rest, emotional support, new boundaries or changes in family roles, yet they may hesitate to ask for these things because they fear burdening loved ones. The resulting tension can produce isolation and resentment. In some songs, participants portrayed themselves as choosing the comfort of the existing relationship over their own recovery, even when that choice left important needs unaddressed.

Music may be particularly useful for exploring these conflicts because it combines verbal and nonverbal forms of communication. A lyric can state a fear directly, while melody, rhythm, harmony and vocal delivery can convey uncertainty, anger, grief or hope that may be difficult to describe in ordinary conversation. The researchers analyzed not only the written lyrics but also song recordings, brainstorming notes and notes from meetings between participants and therapists. This broader approach helped them interpret metaphors and musical decisions within the context of each survivor’s experience rather than treating the words as isolated text.

The structure of a song can also function as a psychological organizing system. Participants may place related thoughts in a verse, return repeatedly to a central concern in the chorus or introduce a contradiction through a bridge. In therapeutic terms, that structure can make conflicting experiences visible without forcing a person to choose one interpretation. A survivor can feel grateful to be alive and angry about what cancer has taken away; hopeful about the future and frightened by medical uncertainty; deeply connected to family and simultaneously lonely. By arranging these experiences into a coherent musical form, songwriting may help participants recognize patterns in their emotional lives.

The process also appeared to strengthen agency and identity. Participants reported feelings of accomplishment, pride and satisfaction after completing their songs. Creating a finished work gave them ownership over an experience that had often made them feel controlled by medical procedures, treatment schedules and unpredictable symptoms. Some described feeling seen and heard through collaborative songwriting. The researchers suggest that this response may be important because cancer can disrupt a person’s sense of identity, shifting attention from professional, family or creative roles toward the status of “patient.” Making an original song can provide a concrete way to reclaim authorship of one’s story.

Sharing the songs created another route for difficult communication. Survivors who might avoid a direct conversation with a partner, friend or family member could use the song as an emotional intermediary. Instead of explaining every feeling in real time, they could present a finished piece that communicated several layers of experience at once. The researchers noted that this may be especially relevant for people who fear being misunderstood, rejected or perceived as a burden. Music does not eliminate the need for conversation, but it can create a safer starting point for conversations that might otherwise never happen.

A related qualitative study led by Drexel professor Joke Bradt, published in the European Journal of Integrative Medicine, found that participants viewed music therapy as useful not only for managing moments of acute anxiety but also for engaging with the personal, relational and societal experiences that shaped their distress. Interviews indicated that participants valued music-based strategies they could carry into everyday life, including techniques applicable in different settings. Together, the studies suggest that anxiety during survivorship may not be merely an episodic symptom to suppress. It may also be a signal connected to unresolved grief, altered relationships, changing priorities and existential questions about the future.

The researchers emphasize that music therapy is not being presented as a replacement for cognitive behavioral therapy or other established mental health care. Cognitive behavioral therapy remains a first-line treatment for anxiety management, and further studies are needed to determine how music therapy can be implemented, for whom it works best and whether it offers economic advantages. Nevertheless, the MELODY findings point to a potentially powerful addition to comprehensive cancer survivorship care. By helping survivors reduce anxiety while also examining the experiences beneath it, songwriting may turn private distress into something recognizable, shareable and actionable. The team hopes the work will encourage healthcare providers and decision-makers to treat creative therapies as legitimate components of long-term cancer care rather than optional extras.

Subject of Research: Music therapy, songwriting and mental health challenges among adult cancer survivors.

Article Title: “This is my voice; this is my story”: a thematic analysis of needs and challenges expressed in songs by adult cancer survivors.

News Publication Date: 7-Jul-2026.

Web References: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11764-026-02071-9#Abs1; https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/clinical-trials/21-516; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876382026001034?via%3Dihub

References: Journal of Cancer Survivorship, DOI: 10.1007/s11764-026-02071-9; European Journal of Integrative Medicine; Journal of Clinical Oncology, DOI: 10.1200/JCO-25-00726.

Keywords: Cancer survivorship, music therapy, songwriting, anxiety, mental health, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, oncology, creativity, cancer patients.

The documentary, highlighting Campbell’s ability to perform complex guitar pieces and sing despite significant cognitive decline, fascinated Winegar. This paradox prompted her to investigate the neural underpinnings of why musical ability persists even as other cognitive domains deteriorate. It is this resilience of musical memory and expression that suggests music therapy may act as a powerful conduit for communication and emotional expression in patients experiencing memory loss and cognitive impairment. Winegar frequently recommends this documentary to early-stage Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, as it not only educates but also offers a relatable framework for understanding their journey with the disease.

Music therapy, a practice with roots extending back some 20,000 years, has traditionally been utilized for its ritualistic and healing properties. Modern science now lends empirical support to its efficacy across a spectrum of neurological and psychological conditions. Winegar’s investigation reveals that music exerts measurable effects on brain plasticity, neurochemical activity, and emotional regulation. By reviewing existing literature and synthesizing clinical observations, she and her colleague Dustin Hixenbaugh coauthored a comprehensive study titled "Prescribing Music as an Adjunctive Treatment," published in the March 2025 issue of The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. This work advocates for the integration of music therapy into standard care protocols for neurodegenerative and other chronic conditions.

At the neurophysiological level, music influences several brain regions implicated in memory, emotion, and motor function, including the hippocampus, amygdala, and motor cortex. Music’s rhythmic structure can entrain neural oscillations, facilitating improvements in speech fluency and motor coordination. For instance, patients with Parkinson’s disease often experience enhanced walking cadence and stride length through rhythmic auditory cues. This rhythmic entrainment modulates basal ganglia circuits, underscoring the capacity of music to influence neuro-motor pathways and mitigate symptoms associated with movement disorders.

In addition, music serves as a potent anxiolytic agent. Neurodegenerative diseases frequently precipitate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and agitation, which exacerbate cognitive and communicative decline. Winegar highlights that singing and actively participating in music-based activities can enable patients to vocalize emotions otherwise trapped by their cognitive impairments. This expressive outlet reduces psychological distress and fosters a sense of agency and connection, which are crucial for quality of life in dementia care. Clinically, this translates into reduced reliance on pharmacological interventions aimed at behavioral management.

The dichotomy between active and passive music therapy modalities is pivotal. Active engagement involves patients playing instruments or vocalizing, which can stimulate motor and cognitive circuits more robustly. Passive listening, while less demanding, still activates neural networks responsible for emotional processing and autonomic regulation. Winegar notes that the therapeutic choice should be tailored to individual patient capabilities and preferences, maximizing adherence and efficacy.

Winegar’s military background informs her appreciation of music’s utility beyond clinical settings. During her service, she found music to be a practical tool for modulating psychological states, whether calming pre-mission jitters or boosting morale. This lived experience parallels her clinical observations: music can induce neurochemical changes conducive to resilience, such as increased dopamine release and modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which governs stress responses.

Another intriguing dimension of Winegar’s research focuses on the autonomic nervous system. Music can induce parasympathetic activation, lowering heart rate and blood pressure—effects highly relevant for patients with comorbid cardiovascular issues. The modulation of overexcited neural circuits also extends to seizure disorders, with studies indicating that music can reduce aberrant electrical brain activity, likely by promoting inhibitory neurotransmitter release or enhancing neurovascular coupling.

Personalization emerges as a cornerstone in the application of music therapy. Winegar emphasizes that the most effective music is that which resonates personally with the patient’s history and tastes. Surprisingly, genres traditionally associated with high energy or aggression, such as heavy metal, may have calming effects for some individuals, challenging stereotypical assumptions about musical impact. This variability necessitates careful assessment and flexible programming by clinicians and caregivers.

Winegar’s recent scientific presentation centered on country music’s clinical applicability, given her own affinity for the genre and its narrative depth. She argues that the storytelling elements embedded in country music—stories of hardship, loss, and resilience—serve as psychological scaffolds, enabling listeners to frame and process their own struggles. This communal aspect of music reinforces social bonds, which are often frayed in chronic illness and aging populations.

The accessibility of music as a therapeutic agent cannot be overstated. Unlike many interventions that require costly equipment or personnel, music can be delivered through ubiquitous devices like radios, smartphones, or wearable technology. This democratization holds promise for broad-reaching public health impact, especially as wearable music therapy gains momentum in ongoing research initiatives.

Ultimately, Winegar’s comprehensive work champions music’s multifaceted therapeutic potential. It catalyzes neurobiological resilience, provides emotional catharsis, mitigates behavioral symptoms, and fosters social connectivity. This array of benefits underscores music’s unique position at the nexus of neuroscience, psychology, and medicine, offering a cost-effective, non-invasive adjunct in the management of neurodegenerative and other chronic conditions. As research advances, it is increasingly clear that music is not merely an art form but a potent clinical tool that can significantly enhance patient care and wellbeing.

Subject of Research: Not applicable
Article Title: Prescribing Music as an Adjunctive Treatment
News Publication Date: 22-Mar-2025
Web References:

• https://www.uta.edu/academics/faculty/profile?user=rhonda.winegar
• https://www.npjournal.org/article/S1555-4155(25)00032-7/fulltext
• http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2025.105349
• https://www.internationalcountrymusic.org/
  References:
  Winegar, R., & Hixenbaugh, D. (2025). Prescribing Music as an Adjunctive Treatment. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. DOI: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2025.105349
  Image Credits: UTA
  Keywords: Discovery research, Heart disease, Alzheimer disease, Clinical research, Medical treatments, Dementia, Chronic pain, Developmental disorders, Wearable devices, Colleges, Academic journals, Memory disorders, Anxiety, Depression, Speech language pathology, Musical instruments, Parkinsons disease, Movement disorders, Seizures, Human brain