Effect of An Integrative Raga-Based Music Module on Chemotherapy-Induced Side Effects and Quality Of Life In Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Anthracycline Or Taxane Chemotherapy: A Randomised Controlled Study
Keywords:
breast cancer; chemotherapy-induced side effects; music therapy; Raga chikitsa; integrative oncology; Ayurveda; anxiety; depression; quality of life.Abstract
Background: Anthracycline- and taxane-based chemotherapy for breast cancer causes haematological, gastrointestinal, and psychological adverse effects that impair quality of life (QoL).
Objective: To evaluate the effect of a Nine-Raga integrative music module on chemotherapy-induced side effects and QoL in breast cancer patients.
Methods: In this randomised controlled study, 120 women aged 35–70 years were allocated, 30 per group, to Group A1 (Adriamycin, trial), A2 (Adriamycin, control), B1 (Paclitaxel, trial) or B2 (Paclitaxel, control). Trial groups listened to the module (nine Ragas with meditation, Chakra Dhyana, Mudra therapy and Sanskrit affirmations) twice daily for seven days per cycle; controls received standard supportive care. Haemoglobin, total leucocyte count (TLC), platelet count, CTCAE v5.0 symptom grades, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and WHOQOL-BREF were recorded at baseline, intermediate and final visits.
Results: All 120 patients completed the study. At the final visit, trial groups had lower depression (p < 0.0001 in both cohorts) and anxiety scores (A1 vs A2, p < 0.0001; B1 vs B2, p = 0.0006) and higher QoL scores (p < 0.0001 in both cohorts) than controls. Nausea grade was lower in A1 than A2 (p = 0.0022), and fatigue grade was lower in B1 than B2 (p = 0.0087). Haemoglobin declined significantly in A2 (p = 0.0082) but not in A1 (p = 0.2046); the A1–A2 difference was significant at baseline (p = 0.0235) and the intermediate visit (p = 0.0320) but not the final visit (p = 0.0575), and B1 and B2 did not differ. TLC was lower in A1 than A2 at the intermediate (p = 0.037) and final (p = 0.043) visits; B1 and B2 did not differ. Platelet counts did not differ between groups.
Conclusion: The Raga module was associated with lower depression and anxiety scores, better QoL and less nausea (Adriamycin cohort) than standard care alone, with no consistent haematological advantage. Music therapy intervention was found effective for reducing anxiety and depression and improving quality of life in breast cancer patients during chemotherapy.
