when music soothes the pain and anxiety of cancer patients

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In the white and austere corridors of theQuimper hospital (Finistère), Cécile Fourage’s harp is astonishing. Since February, this music therapist spend Tuesday in the oncology department.

She enters patients’ rooms with her harp but also with other instruments: ocean drum, kalimba, Tibetan bowl, maracas, drums… It is the medical team who designates patients likely to accept this very special treatment. .

“It’s a treatment in its own right. Numerous studies show that music therapy helps soothe pain, anxiety, fatigue, etc. We note that some patients need less morphine or anxiolytics after a music therapy session. Some hospitals have also observed a reduction in nausea during chemotherapy. »

Recently, Cécile Fourage played the harp for a patient who was undergoing a lumbar puncture, a fairly painful procedure. “He was more relaxed, less painful,” describes the doctor.

Three-month workshops

Cécile Fourage begins her interventions with a few notes on the harp, her original instrument. Then she suggests that the patient play with his musical instruments, sing or listen to songs of his choice. “We work on emotions, on non-verbal sound communication,” observes Cécile Fourage.

She has been practicing since 2010 and obtaining her DU in music therapy at the Faculty of Medicine of Nantes. She works at the same time in the palliative care unit of Douarnenez. In mid-November, she will lead workshops for patients treated for cancer but who are no longer hospitalized. Two groups of 8 people will follow one session per week for three months.

Léa Muzellec is delighted with this new treatment offered to people who suffer from memory and concentration problems following treatments with chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or radiotherapy:

“I really believe in this cognitive remediation workshop to allow patients to regain concentration and self-confidence, to reactivate their body and their brain and, ultimately, return to a normal life. »

Interventions still very rare

Léa Muzellec had no trouble finding candidates for this first cycle of music therapy. Others will follow.

This type of intervention in an oncology department is still very rare in France. “Many music therapists open a practice or rather intervene inin nursing homes. In palliative care, there are only two of us involved in France,” explains Cécile Fourage, who also plays the harp in neonatology.

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