A new research looks into the positive effects of psychosocial activities like singing to cancer care and discovers something incredibly special. Music may be one of the keys for better survival among patients.
Over the past years, there has been a growing interest on better cancer care and management including the possible positive impact of social activities that promote improved mental health. However, evidence remains elusive primarily because there's not enough research available.
As their contribution to this field of study, London researchers including those from Tenovus Cancer Care investigated the possible positive effects of singing in a choir especially in terms of enhancing mood and stress.
The researchers selected 193 participants, 55 of whom had been diagnosed with cancer or were in remission, and grouped them to sing with five choirs in Wales. They excluded subjects who were pregnant, below 18 years old, part of a clinical trial, treated with other cancer therapies like chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and diagnosed with oral cancer. Other participants were 72 current and 66 bereaved cancer carers.
Participants filled out a form to measure their demographics and mental health before being tasked to join one session of song rehearsal with the rest of the choir for an hour. After the practice, saliva samples were collected, and participants were evaluated based on their level of stress and mood.
Based on the results, the data "demonstrates associations between singing and reduced negative and increased positive effect, reduced cortisol, oxytocin and beta-endorphin and increased levels of cytokines," concluded the study.
This means that singing is directly correlated to the decrease in stress indicators like cortisol and increase of cytokines, one of the essential proteins of the immune system. Furthermore, the best positive psychological changes were seen among participants who were showing signs of depression or poor mental well-being.
The researchers describe their findings as exciting. "We have been building a body of evidence over the past six years to show that singing in a choir can have a range of social, emotional and psychological benefits, and now we can see it has biological effects too," said Dr. Ian Lewis, research director for Tenovus Cancer Care and one of the co-authors of the study.
Although these positive effects may not be enough to treat or cure cancer, they can improve the survival rate of patients by boosting the immune system and reducing stress, which one study shows can make the disease worse.
The researchers are now planning to expand the study, currently published in ecancermedicalscience, for the next two years.
