Bozcuk, H., Artac, M., Kara, A., Ozdogan, M., Sualp, Y., Topcu, Z., . . . Savas, B. (2006). Does music exposure during chemotherapy improve quality of life in early breast cancer patients? A pilot study. Medical Science Monitor, 12, CR200–CR205.
Patients were exposed to the same kind of music played from a music set located within the chemotherapy unit while their chemotherapies were administered. Music included pieces from the album “Love Songs” by James Galway, distributed by BMG music, 2001 of which were instrumental pieces of international classical music. Patient outcomes were evaluated before and after a baseline cycle of chemotherapy and before and after a chemotherapy cycle with the musical intervention.
Outpatient clinics
This was a pilot study.
European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30)
The music intervention did not demonstrate improvement in fatigue outcomes.
Future studies may want to account for personal preferences of the patients for the type of music listened to during chemotherapy.