A new Cochrane Systematic Review study suggests that using music can reduce anxiety in cancer patients and can also have a positive impact on mood, pain and quality of life. Researchers analyzed 1,891 patients from 30 trials in which they participated. Thirteen of the trials used trained music therapists, while in the remaining 17 trials, patients listened to pre-recorded music. The results of the study showed that based on clinical anxiety scores, music can significantly reduce anxiety compared to standard treatment methods. The findings also suggest that music therapy can improve patients’ quality of life. Music had some benefits for mood and pain relief, but was not helpful for stress relief. The trial also found that music had a small beneficial effect on heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure. The evidence suggests that music intervention methods can be useful as adjunctive therapy for cancer patients.