A ‘Sentimental Journey’ in the Cancer Clinic

I know this man personally, I am dating his stepdaughter. I was actually at the concert and it was the most uplifting experience I have ever had. Today he completed his sentimental journey and touched the face of God. We were with him when he crossed over. He will be missed by all.

A lovely article. My takeaway is that what made the difference is that the patient performed the music. It gave him an opportunity for recognition and validation from family and friends. Anyone can listen to music, but the group endeavor, the looking forward to the event, and his attentive support system was key. I’d be happy to play for others so they could sing if a situation like this came along.

We're very pleased to see another confirmation of what we all know: music hath charms. How can we all conspire, collude if you will, to see that every person, of every age, has music in their life? Make it, play it, listen to it, watch it, be present for it, take it up late in life, bang a drum, sing a song: we're all on our sentimental journey, and the giddy joy is to shine on, you crazy diamond.

I was passing through the lobby of the assisted living facility where my aunt lived when I saw an aid wheel an elderly gent into the commons area with a large accordion strapped to him. He sat there a while, head drooped with an IV drip and catheter bag, his fingers slowly running over the keys and buttons. A while later I passed through again, and he was absolutely shredding "Short Fat Fanny".

Perhaps your readers would appreciate knowing about an international nonprofit organization called Threshold Choir, which has more than 200 chapters of volunteer singers ready to provide quiet, comforting, lullaby-like harmonies at the bedsides of those on hospice (or facing other major thresholds of life). I have been singing quietly in small groups at bedside with the Sacramento chapter of Threshold Choir for several years, with the simple intention of offering "kindness made audible." Our chapter is honored to join more than 2,000 other volunteer Threshold singers across the United States and overseas who provide this service, free of charge, when contacted by patients seeking relief from physical and emotional discomfort. Anyone interested in learning more about Threshold Choir, or locating a local chapter via its online directory, can find plenty of information on the organization's main web site: thresholdchoir.org.

Two decades of incurable cancer made bearable by music and chemotherapy. Music is man's great achievement, IMHO.

Beautiful. Just beautiful. Thank you.

I was diagnosed with and treated for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma ten years ago. My experience with music was very different. During the chemo phase, which was in a common room, there was always music. It was "patient's choice" so everyone had to listen to someone else's music, and was expected to select songs. Quiet was not an option, and everyone was expected to applaud after each song for some reason. During the radiation stage, there was music in the waiting room. Loud, boppy, distracting noise. We were not allowed to contemplate our treatments or lives because the hospital staff decided we were required to listen to their favorite tunes. I am glad the patient in the story found solace and pleasure in music. But don't assume everyone wants music in their treatment. Some of us enjoy and benefit from contemplative silence, and everyone else has headphones.

I am an ovarian cancer patient and have been fighting this disease for 5 years. My husband goes with me to all my chemotherapy sessions and steams jazz for me the entire time. We both love music, particularly jazz. The therapeutic value of having music while I get chemo or transfusions is beyond measure. And I have noticed that my nurses all gravitate to the room more frequently when the music is playing. My oncologist and the entire staff have become friends to us. I am so fortunate to be in the hands of such wonderful medical staff. And to have a husband who cares so much and supports me every step of the way.

I survived 6 treatments of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. What got me through it was listening to my Opera tapes with Corelli, Tebaldi, Vickers, Tucker, Caballe and Solti with the Chicago Orchestra. Bravo to Dr. Sekeres.

I'll never be able to listen to Sentimental Journey the same way again. Thank you, I think.

My mother spent the last five years of her life in a nursing home not far from where we live -- As we were planning to drive up for a visit - I spoke with my sister on the phone, who told me she had just visited our mother a few days earlier -- A few days later - sitting with my mother - I mentioned that my sister said she'd visited a few days ago and asked how that went -- Looking confused - my mother asked me what I was talking about - and that she hadn't seen my sister - (her daughter) - in over six months -- Not wanting to push the issue, I let it go and changed the subject - I told her I'd just seen the movie "All About Eve" on TV -- "Oh - what a great movie!" she exclaimed - as her eyes lite up -- "Betty Davis, Ann Baxter , George Sanders - one of my favorites!" -- It's one of mine as well -- and now - every time I see "All About Eve" played on TV - I smile and think of my mom ...

In the world of the oncologist and his/her patients, there is the confrontation with the doctor's limited armamentarium to restore full patient health and the patient's confrontation of a life transformed into struggles never imagined. A book that I think helps both doctor and patient is, "Life on Purpose" by Victor Strecher. After reading this book (and having confronted aggressive cancer), I've concluded that much of life's meaning comes from having a strong sense of purpose.

The last few months of my mother's life were spent in a late-stage dementia ward of a nursing home. Amid the shouting, screams, and bad smells that had taken over the room, my mother could be found watching a tape of an Andre Rieu performance from his hometown of Maastricht. My mother had lost some hearing, so the staff placed her close to the audio where she sat fully engrossed on the screen. It reminded me of her younger self, intently listening to LPs of opera, popular singers, and Broadway show tunes. She would be deeply engrossed, as each record fell from the stack carefully placed on the stand. Watching her, I realized the music had transformed her to a place of beauty where music would always play.

Lovely. My eyes are glistening now. Thank you for writing this.

Beautiful. I have cancer that my doctors tell me is incurable. (I've chosen not to believe them.) I find myself listening to music more often than I used to. Some sounds, a tight harmony, for instance, and some lyrics are almost viscerally satisfying. This article helps explain why music appeals to me now. Thank you, doctor.

What a beautiful piece! By engaging with patients around music, it also helps to enhance our picture of them as more than a patient with a diagnosis. It enables the patient to be more themselves, tap into strengths and for us to do so as well. I had a patient who used to play old radio shows like the Shadow Knows. This helped me to help access some of his childhood memories and to also enjoy some nostalgia with him. You are doing great work!

Yes, music can make facing death more tolerable AND so can having an oncologist like Dr Sekeres. Oh for more oncologists who understand the importance of spending time with patients and their families as a significant component of treatment and even when--or especially when-- a patient's incurable disease can no longer be treated. Also more hospices that allow transfusions and other treatments to help the patient feel more like her/himself as s/he faces death. Thank you, Dr Sekeres.

My husband died from mylodysplasia in 2000, after a 2 and half year battle that was only to last under a year. Our loving doctor and family sustained him. Without our ROSWELL doctor, we could not have faced another day. Our doctor gave us all the encouragement and support we needed. She was there to smile and in the i consoled her. Doctor Sekeres, thank you so much for sharing this.

Wonderful article, Doctor Sekeres! Thanks for all your heartfelt articles!

My grandmother currently has a severe medical condition and most of the time she is down and out, contemplating on her health. However when I recently bought her a small CD set with her favorite oldies from back when she was young, she’s now 95, I can immediately see how her eyes light up, she then continues humming and tapping her feet to the beat. With music from back in her time she escape her current situation and day dream back to wonderful thoughts of her dancing and having tons of fun. Thank God for music which connects back to so many wonderful memories and let’s you get lost in the rhythm and lyrics of the song .

This patient was very lucky to have you care for him at the end of his life. I wish my father could have continued treatment for his cancer- related anemia to give him some energy at the end; alas, the hospice didn't allow it. End of life treatment can be so heartless.

Lovely piece. Thank you. Music heals, comforts, inspires and reaches places in our heart that no other art can. When my dad was dying, I played (the young) Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennet on the cd player on his night table. Sentimental or otherwise, I hope the music eased his way out.

Can we hear/see the video his son made???

Not by bread alone: whatever you think is the most important thing in a situation, there’s always something else.