Letter to the Editor: Music Meet Up—Preliminary Results of a Novel Music Therapy Group Intervention for Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer

Dear Editor:

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer routinely experience social isolation, body image concerns, and depend on caregivers, with associated emotional distress that can persist long after treatment is complete. ¹ Music therapy can be an effective way of bringing people together and decreasing cancer-related distress.^2,3 We evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of a novel developmentally informed group music therapy intervention for AYAs called “Music Meet Up.” The closed 6-week group coupled specific music therapy interventions (Table 1) with psychoeducation and peer support, through a supportive-expressive lens. The program was offered three times, with a final total of 23 group participants. Mean age was 29 years (range 19–42) and 15 of 23 (65%) identified as female. Cancer diagnoses included hematological and solid tumor; treatments included chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery; and stages included early to advanced. Twenty AYAs participated in quantitative measures and 4 of those 20 participated in qualitative interviews.

Based on qualitative feedback, three dominant themes emerged; the first was “using music to develop social and emotional connections with others.” Participants highlighted drumming, improvising, and song writing as activities that enabled social and emotional connectivity with one another. It was unanimously shared that feeling vulnerable was necessary to develop a deeper sense of connection with others. Cultivating this level of openness was only made possible by the specific approach taken by the program facilitators—what participants described as being “challenged by choice.” The second theme was “acquiring a ‘musical toolbox’ to enhance ways to cope with cancer.” Participants learned how to use music as a method to cope with stress, which permitted them to express, rather than avoid, their emotions related to cancer; participants gained a new appreciation for the role of music in mood management. The final theme that emerged was “providing a fun and uplifting activity to look forward to.” In sum, participants found the program reduced social isolation, offered a practical toolbox to help cope with cancer, and created a comfortable space to share emotions with others at a time when they felt most disconnected.

These early findings highlight the potential benefits of a group music therapy program for AYAs with cancer. A notable limitation of this pilot study was small sample size. As data collection continues, feasibility and acceptability will be explored more deeply. For example, the “challenge by choice” facilitation technique may have further potential to impact psychosocial outcomes. Given that AYAs often lose their sense of autonomy at a stage in life associated with the desire to establish independence, ⁴ “challenge by choice” may provide participants with a great degree of control over their level of engagement and could enhance acceptability of other types of AYA groups. Further research directions include collecting additional quantitative and qualitative data, as well as consideration of an experimental prospective design with a control arm. Potential expansion to other cancer centers, community settings, and virtual venues, in particular, is also promising. Positive initial impressions make this pilot a first step toward formalizing an innovative targeted group intervention for this population.