Music and healing in cancer care: A survey of supportive care providers

This paper explores the role of music activity and music therapy in health care drawing on a survey of UK cancer care providers offering music interventions and music therapy. The survey examined the extent and type of music provision and explored providers’ views about the role and contribution of music and music therapy in healing. As well as music, the survey organisations offered a range of supportive therapies including complementary and alternative therapies (CAM) and creative therapies such as art therapy. The results provide insight into the way in which music and creative therapies are viewed by those responsible for care provision in this sector. The data point towards some of the challenges facing music therapists in the changing world of cancer care. These include responding to changes arising from developments in treatment and the organisation of care as well as increased collaboration with a diverse range of supportive care practitioners. These include providers of music and arts for health activity as well as complementary and alternative therapy practitioners who are increasingly involved in cancer care provision. We discuss the implications of these changes for the development of music therapy in cancer care.