Over the last two decades, music therapy has been an integral part of our paediatric oncology service, evolving in step with advances in medical treatment and patient care. In the radiotherapy setting, children often undergo daily treatment under general anaesthesia, which can cause significant fear, anxiety and even long-term hospital-acquired trauma. Music therapy provides a developmentally appropriate, evidence-based approach to reducing distress, fostering cooperation and supporting children and families throughout their radiotherapy treatment.

Interdisciplinary care is most impactful when clinicians operate like an orchestra – with distinct roles and a unified purpose. Music therapy works closely with anaesthetists, radiation therapists, nursing and the medical team to enhance and support the child and family’s experience of radiotherapy. Music therapy interventions include live music entrainment during anaesthetic induction, musical play and active music-making that promotes emotional expression, agency and resilience.

In this presentation, clinical examples will describe the role of music therapy in paediatric radiotherapy, particularly at the interface with anaesthetic care – creating containment in high-stress environments. Music therapy contributes to smoother anaesthetic inductions and reduced pre-procedural anxiety, and improves the therapeutic relationship between families and care teams.

Our music therapy service has embodied impact and innovation, thanks to the vision of those who established the program. Their groundwork laid a strong foundation for a responsive, evolving service that continues to meet the complex needs of children in our care. As such, we can continue to innovate within a complex medical setting – amplifying care, reducing trauma and improving outcomes for children by orchestrating calm where it is needed most.

As we look to the future, we aim to extend this approach into emerging areas such as proton beam therapy – ensuring that our care evolves with the same responsiveness and innovation as the treatments themselves.