Resident working with study left institution

This study evaluates the experience of musicians who are going through cancer treatment.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Describe specific musical difficulties that arise during and after cancer treatments: define "musical toxicity".

II. Discover any interventions or treatments which musicians found helpful while going through cancer treatment.

III. Investigate whether the priority of playing music changed through the course of cancer treatment and beyond, in relation to other priorities including cancer cure and length of life.

IV. Discover treatment and cancer related factors which are correlated with worse musical toxicity.

OUTLINE: This is an observational study. Patients are assigned to 1 of 2 groups.

MUSICAL TOXICITY GROUP: Patients complete a questionnaire, participate in an interview and have their medical records reviewed on study.

NO MUSICAL TOXICITY GROUP: Patients have their medical records reviewed on study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• * Adults ≥ 18 years or older

  • Active or accomplished musicians

    • Those performing in the community as part of a group or as a soloist
    • Those teaching lessons in an individual or group setting
    • Those for whom music teaching or performance is a primary source of income
    • Those who play music multiple times per week

  • Our ideal cohort will consist of an equal number of patients with the following malignancies above the diaphragm:

    • Brain
    • Head and Neck
    • Esophagus or Lung
    • Breast

  • Our ideal cohort will consist of an equal number of patients who engage in the following musical endeavors:

    • Stringed instruments
    • Wind instruments (including woodwind and brass instruments)
    • Keyboard instruments
    • Vocalists

Exclusion Criteria:

• * < 18 years

  • Did not regularly attempt to engage in musical endeavors during or after cancer treatment
  • Not willing or able to complete the questionnaire or engage in a one-hour interview (i.e. limited English proficiency)

Patients who are active or accomplished musicians undergoing cancer treatment.