There are currently an estimated 2.6 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States, with over 90% having survived more than five years (American Cancer Society, 2012). Survival rates have been increasing since 1990 due to improved early detection and methods of treatment; however, women in the first-year of post-treatment survival continue to experience quality of life needs in physical, psychological, social, and spiritual domains. Studies demonstrate the effectiveness of music therapy during cancer treatment for pain and procedural anxiety, distraction, and increased relaxation (Bradt, Dileo, Grocke, & Magill, 2011), but there remains a need for research on the effects of music therapy during the post-treatment experience of cancer survivors. The initial purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of a music therapy group intervention on mood, psychosocial well-being, and quality of life of breast cancer survivors. Study aims were (a) to examine the effect of group music therapy on the overall quality of life of breast cancer survivors in post-treatment survivorship; (b) to determine the differential effects of group music therapy on the quality of life domains of physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being; and (c) to examine whether the intervention effects were sustained over time. The music therapy group intervention was six weekly 90-minute sessions, incorporating both active (music making, such as singing or instrument playing, music improvisation, and improvisatory songwriting) and receptive (music listening, music-assisted relaxation, and forms of music with guided imagery) techniques. Originally, the research sought to use an experimental design with repeated measures throughout the treatment protocol of 6 weeks and at 2-week follow-up, using inferential statistical analysis of the dependent variables between and within groups for the criterion measures: Profile of Mood States - Short Form (POMS-SF), Quality of Life - Cancer Survivors (QOL-CS), and Coping Resources Inventory (CRI); however, the reality that the recruitment yielded only three participants required a shift in emphasis using qualitative data, originally gathered for more anecdotal purposes. The qualitative data acquired through the Music Therapy Questionnaire and session videotapes provided evidence of perceived treatment benefits noted by the women in the study, as well as the researcher. Major themes gleaned from these data through qualitative approaches suggested that (1) The impact of cancer affected all aspects of quality of life and extended into survivorship; (2) Participants preferred silence during cancer treatment and/or used music listening to impact mood and express emotions during cancer treatment and recovery; (3) Music therapy techniques increased self-awareness, emotional expression and insight, leading to therapeutic growth and change; and (4) Participation in music therapy group provided social support and validation, enhanced coping skills, and served as an outlet for emotional expression. These findings support the efficacy of a music therapy group intervention on mood, psychosocial well-being and quality of life for three breast cancer survivors who were participants in the study. Positive benefits were documented for all quality of life domains, including physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being, and were sustained at least over a short-term period of time. These findings further suggest implications for the field of music therapy concerning service delivery in the treatment and aftercare of cancer patients. Interpretations of these findings suggest (1) the importance of aftercare and cancer survivorship services; (2) the power of music and the need for its informed therapeutic application; and (3) the impact of group support and potential effectiveness of short-term music therapy groups.
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