Breast cancer survivors are experiencing stress. While breast cancer survival rates continue to increase, growing numbers of breast cancer survivors face unmet psychosocial needs leading to symptoms of chronic stress, anxiety, and depression. In fact, compared to all cancer survivors, breast cancer survivors (BCS) report some of the highest rates of stress. Among all breast cancer survivors, Black breast cancer survivors are the most affected by symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression due to compounded physical and environmental stressors. These symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression can lead to negative health outcomes, from increased pain to potential risk of cancer recurrence.

Singing and songwriting might be a way to reduce stress. Singing might be particularly effective in reducing symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression in breast cancer survivors. This may be due, in part, to circulatory and respiratory changes initiated by singing. Both stress-reduction and music therapy literature cite a need to incorporate adaptation and cultural tailoring into intervention design. Singing and the design thinking process may provide culturally valued coping mechanisms for breast cancer survivors including spirituality and community building. Thus, the results of this design thinking study may reveal a method through which music can be adapted and culturally tailored for groups of breast cancer survivors to more effectively address the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. 

To test this idea, we wrote two songs together. Our study has two objectives: (1) to co-design and test the feasibility and acceptability of a song to affect symptoms of stress with Black breast cancer survivors and (2) to determine the effect of the songs on the heart rate as a stress measure with Black breast cancer survivors.

We are currently examining our results!

Project Resonance is supported by:
The Champion Center for Cancer Prevention and Control
The Walther Cancer Foundation
Regenstrief Institute, Inc.