A cancer diagnosis can affect much more than physical health. Along with medical treatments, patients may experience anxiety, emotional distress, fatigue, and uncertainty about the future. During this time, even small moments of comfort can feel meaningful.
This growing need for supportive care has encouraged researchers to explore how music and sound-based experiences may help people navigate cancer treatment.
Recent studies suggest that certain music-based interventions may provide short-term emotional benefits, including improvements in mood and distress. Research on pain and fatigue has produced mixed results, while studies involving sound baths, singing bowls, and other sound healing practices are still emerging.
At the time of writing, the research offers encouraging possibilities, along with important questions that future studies may help answer.
In clinical research, music therapy typically involves a trained music therapist, while music-based interventions can also include listening to recorded music. Sound healing practices such as singing-bowl and gong baths are distinct wellness experiences, and research findings from one approach should not automatically be applied to another.
For people interested in sound therapy for cancer patients, understanding these distinctions can help them make informed choices about complementary wellness practices.
What Does Research Say About Music Therapy During Cancer Treatment?
Music-based interventions may help some cancer patients manage anxiety, depressive symptoms, and emotional distress during active treatment. This conclusion is supported by clinical research and professional oncology guidelines.
What Leading Oncology Organizations Recommend
In 2023, the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) published joint guidelines examining integrative approaches for anxiety and depression in adults with cancer.
After reviewing 110 publications, including 80 randomized clinical trials, the organizations concluded that music therapy or music-based interventions may be offered to help manage anxiety and depressive symptoms during active cancer treatment.¹
The recommendations were considered moderate in strength, although the supporting evidence was rated as low quality.
This distinction is meaningful: the findings are encouraging, but researchers still need more high-quality studies to better understand which patients benefit and how long improvements may last.
A Large Study Found Improvements in Mood and Distress
A 2023 study published in JCO Oncology Practice examined the effects of music listening during chemotherapy.
Researchers enrolled 750 patients across six treatment centers, with 708 included in the final analysis. Participants in the music group selected their preferred music and listened for an average of approximately 57 minutes during treatment.²
Compared with patients who did not receive the music-listening intervention, those who listened to music experienced:
- Improved positive mood: Participants reported modest improvements in how they felt immediately after listening.
- Reduced negative mood: Music listening was associated with fewer negative emotional feelings.
- Lower emotional distress: Patients reported small but measurable improvements in immediate distress.
This study did not find a statistically significant improvement in pain. Researchers also did not determine whether the emotional benefits continued beyond the treatment session.²
These findings suggest that music listening may offer a simple form of emotional support during an experience that can be physically and emotionally demanding.
Key takeaway: Music-based interventions may provide modest, short-term emotional benefits during cancer treatment. These findings support further research into music-based supportive care, while raising separate questions about other sound-based wellness experiences.
Can Music and Sound Therapy Help with Cancer-Related Pain and Fatigue?
Some research suggests that music-based interventions may help with cancer-related pain and fatigue, although results remain mixed. Differences in study methods, patient populations, and intervention types make it difficult to draw firm conclusions.
What a Review of More Than 9,000 Participants Found
A 2023 umbrella review examined 13 systematic reviews involving more than 9,000 participants and 119 distinct randomized clinical trials.³
An umbrella review combines findings from multiple systematic reviews to examine the broader scientific evidence.
The researchers identified several important findings:
- Pain: Some studies suggested possible improvements, although the results were inconsistent.
- Fatigue: Music-based interventions showed potential benefits, but the certainty of the evidence was limited.
- Anxiety and depression: Results varied across studies.
- Quality of life: Findings were mixed or inconclusive.
A published correction in 2024 clarified that the review did not establish a benefit for emotional distress.³˒⁴
However, the researchers also identified limitations involving study quality and overlapping research data, so hopefully future studies will paint a clearer picture.
Why Emotional Comfort and Physical Relief Are Different
One of the most interesting aspects of this research is that emotional and physical outcomes do not always change together.
For example, the large chemotherapy study discussed earlier found improvements in mood and distress but no significant reduction in pain.²
This highlights an important distinction:
An experience can feel emotionally supportive without necessarily changing physical symptoms.
For individuals navigating cancer care, moments of emotional comfort may still be personally meaningful.
For practitioners, these findings encourage a thoughtful approach to discussing sound-based wellness experiences. Rather than promising relief from specific symptoms, the focus can remain on providing an inviting space for rest, relaxation, and personal reflection.
Sound Baths, Singing Bowls, and the Future of Sound Healing Research
Sound healing practitioners use a variety of instruments and techniques to create immersive listening experiences. Singing bowls, gongs, chimes, and sound-based vibration are among the approaches commonly used in wellness settings.
At the time of writing, direct oncology research involving these practices remains limited. However, scientific interest in instrument-based sound experiences continues to provide opportunities for further investigation.
What Research Says About Singing Bowls
A 2025 systematic review by Cai and colleagues examined 19 clinical studies involving singing bowls and their potential effects on health and well-being.⁶
The researchers found considerable differences in how singing-bowl interventions were delivered, including variations in techniques and participant populations.
Because of these differences, drawing broad conclusions about their health effects remains challenging.
Direct research involving cancer patients was also limited.
For now, the findings provide a foundation for future studies rather than firm conclusions about specific clinical benefits.
Researchers may eventually be able to examine questions such as:
- How do different singing-bowl techniques affect participants’ experiences?
- Does session length influence perceived relaxation or comfort?
- How do individual sound preferences affect emotional responses?
- Could carefully designed studies identify supportive applications for specific patient populations?
These are research questions, not established outcomes. Still, they reflect the many areas that remain open for scientific exploration.
An Oncology Study Examined Sound-Based Vibration
A 2023 exploratory randomized trial investigated the use of a body monochord, an instrument that produces sound and physical vibration through direct contact with the body.
The study included 73 oncology outpatients who participated in one of two interventions:
- Active sound and vibration: Participants played a body monochord positioned against their chest.
- Passive music listening: Participants listened to recorded classical music.
Both groups practiced for approximately 15 minutes before bedtime over four weeks.⁵
The study reported primary response rates of 27% in the body-monochord group and 39% in the recorded-music group. In this case, the difference was not statistically significant.
Neither intervention demonstrated improvements in pain or sleep quality. Some secondary findings favored recorded music listening.⁵
The study did not include a quiet-rest or usual-care-only comparison group, which limits what can be concluded about the interventions.
Although these findings do not establish clinical benefits for sound-based vibration, the study provides an example of how researchers are beginning to examine instrument-based experiences within oncology populations.
Future research with larger participant groups and stronger study designs may help clarify which approaches provide measurable supportive benefits.
What This Means for Sound Healing Practitioners
For sound healing practitioners, this developing body of research presents an opportunity to connect personal wellness experiences with scientific curiosity.
There is a meaningful difference between describing how someone experiences a sound bath and making a medical claim about what that experience can treat.
A participant might describe feeling peaceful, emotionally supported, or more connected to the present moment during a session. These personal experiences can be valued without treating them as evidence of a clinical outcome.
Practitioners can support a responsible, participant-centered approach by focusing on several principles:
- Prioritize comfort. Offer choices about sound intensity, positioning, and participation whenever possible.
- Respect individual preferences. Different sounds and instruments may feel pleasant to some people and uncomfortable to others.
- Communicate clearly. Describe sound baths as complementary wellness and meditation experiences.
- Encourage informed decisions. Invite participants receiving medical treatment to discuss complementary activities with their healthcare team.
- Remain curious about research. Follow new studies while recognizing the difference between preliminary findings and established clinical evidence.
These principles help practitioners create thoughtful experiences without placing unrealistic expectations on participants.
For those curious about the practice itself, our guide to sound bath meditation explains what happens during a session and how sound is incorporated into meditation.
Choosing Sound-Based Wellness Experiences During Cancer Care
Every person’s experience with cancer is different. Treatment plans, physical needs, emotional concerns, and personal preferences can vary considerably—as each individual is unique.
Before participating in a complementary sound-based activity, individuals undergoing cancer treatment should speak with their oncology team.
A few helpful questions to consider include:
- Is this type of wellness activity appropriate during my current treatment?
- Can the session be adapted to my comfort and physical needs?
- Will I be able to adjust the sound level or leave the session if needed?
- Does the practitioner understand the importance of working within appropriate wellness boundaries?
Individuals experiencing significant pain, fatigue, or emotional distress should continue to seek support from qualified healthcare professionals.
Sound-based wellness experiences are best approached as optional complements to an individual’s existing care plan, when medically appropriate.
A Thoughtful Future for Sound Healing and Supportive Cancer Care
Scientific research continues to explore how music and sound-based experiences may support people facing the emotional and physical demands of cancer care.
Current evidence suggests that certain music-based interventions may offer modest, short-term emotional benefits during active treatment. Research involving pain and fatigue remains mixed, while direct studies of singing bowls, sound baths, and instrument-based vibration are still developing.
For sound healing practitioners and those interested in holistic wellness, these findings offer reasons to remain curious and engaged with emerging research.
As new studies become available, we look forward to learning more about the possible role of sound-based experiences in supportive wellness practices.
At The Art of Sound Healing, we value the opportunity to explore sound as part of a personal wellness practice while respecting the importance of individualized medical care.
If you’re interested in learning about our sound-based wellness experiences, we invite you to schedule a consultation to discuss the sessions we offer and your personal preferences. These experiences are not medical treatments, and anyone receiving cancer care should discuss participation with their oncology team.
Medical disclaimer: This content is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Sound therapy, sound baths, and other complementary wellness practices should not be used to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure cancer or replace conventional medical or psychological care. Individuals receiving cancer treatment should consult their oncology team before participating in sound-based wellness activities.
References
- Carlson LE, Ismaila N, Addington EL, et al. Integrative oncology care of symptoms of anxiety and depression in adults with cancer: Society for Integrative Oncology–ASCO guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2023. doi:10.1200/JCO.23.00857
- Harper FWK, Heath AS, Moore TF, et al. Using music as a tool for distress reduction during cancer chemotherapy treatment. JCO Oncol Pract. 2023;19(12):1133-1142. doi:10.1200/OP.22.00814
- Trigueros-Murillo A, Martínez-Calderón J, Casuso-Holgado MJ, et al. Effects of music-based interventions on cancer-related pain, fatigue, and distress: an overview of systematic reviews. Support Care Cancer. 2023;31:488. doi:10.1007/s00520-023-07938-6
- Trigueros-Murillo A, Martínez-Calderón J, Casuso-Holgado MJ, et al. Correction to: Effects of music-based interventions on cancer-related pain, fatigue, and distress: an overview of systematic reviews. Support Care Cancer. 2024;32:268. doi:10.1007/s00520-024-08478-3
- Hohneck A, Meissner R, Reyser C, et al. Effects of a sound intervention on physical and emotional well-being in patients with cancer: a prospective randomized trial. Oncol Res Treat. 2023;46(1-2):1-10. doi:10.1159/000528187
- Cai Y, Yang G, Liu Y, et al. Therapeutic effects of singing bowls: a systematic review of clinical studies. Integr Med Res. 2025;14(2):101144. doi:10.1016/j.imr.2025.101144