Music: The powerful reliever of emotional outlet
"During my hospital stay, I looked forward to the music therapy programme on Wednesdays. The music therapists' music gave me strength, allowing me to finally vent out all the pent-up emotions and fear deep in my heart." Last year, just when Zoe thought that she was nearing recovery from breast cancer, a sudden pneumonia infection brought her back to the hospital. She suffered from repeated fevers, enduring profound physical and mental anguish every single day. Fortunately, Gigi Lam, Ward Manager of the Department of Clinical Oncology at Queen Mary Hospital (QMH), promptly referred her to the music therapy programme ‘Harmony Connection', hoping to provide psychological support to ease her anxiety.
"When we see patients struggling with issues such as low mood, pain, asthma or insomnia, we refer them for music therapy. This helps them to express their emotions while alleviating feelings of loneliness during their hospital stay," Gigi explains. Zoe recalls that not even the psychological counselling sessions could help relieve her negative thoughts and feelings. Yet music therapy helped her open up. "I still remember my first session with the music therapist. She played me the Cantonese pop song ‘Red Sun' and invited me to keep the beat with a maraca. As I listened to the song, tears streamed down my face, and I slowly felt calmer. While music could not heal all my pain, it temporarily pulled me out of that dark spiral of negative emotions, offering me a touch of sweetness during those bitter days."
Cancer patient composed a song with husband make her smile
Since February 2025, the Clinical Oncology Department of QMH has implemented the ‘Harmony Connection' programme through the medical-social collaboration model. It provides weekly individual music therapy sessions for inpatients in need and has benefited over 120 persons to date. Dr Yuen Kwok-keung, Chief of Service of the Department of Clinical Oncology at QMH, highlights that music is a universal language which transcends cultural and linguistic barriers, allowing people to connect in no time. Through song selection and playing music together with the patients, therapists are able to establish trust and connections quickly. This enables therapists to help patients process and express their emotions and feelings, and in some cases, it can even inspire patients to reconnect with their loved ones, rediscovering hope amid suffering.
Gigi recalls a female patient in her sixties living with advanced cancer, who felt overwhelmed and depressed by the fear of death. Learning that she and her husband had a shared passion for music when they were young, the therapist encouraged them to compose a short piece together. "That unique melody not only brought back the patients' long-lost smile, but also left her husband with the most beautiful and precious memory after she died."
The ‘Harmony Connection' programme will soon be extended to paediatric and adolescent unit, bringing comfort and support to more patients in need. Zoe suggests that the hospital to consider introducing music therapy for healthcare professionals to help alleviate their stress. "Beyond aiding patients, I believe that music could also provide our dedicated healthcare workers with a space to unwind and recharge from their heavy workloads."
