Children's Music Fund Supports Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

September 1, 2026 | Blogs and News

Updated Sept 2026 — 1 min read —

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time to recognize the strength and resilience of children and families facing childhood cancer. In 2026, Children’s Cancer Cause estimates 9,680 children ages 0 to 14 in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer — a reminder of why compassionate, specialized care matters throughout their treatment.

At Children’s Music Fund, we focus on the benefits Music Therapy provides for our CMF Kids facing cancer. Music is a universal language and it provides a non-invasive, cost effective and enjoyable form of therapy that benefits everyone.

At the bedside, it helps manage pain, ease anxiety and give children a positive outlet for self-expression through voice, rhythm and presence during some of the hardest moments of their lives.

Neuronal pathways associated with changes in pain, anxiety and depression are all affected during Music Therapy sessions, which explains the reduction in negative and noxious symptoms observed in patients. To further support this, The Cancer Research Center in the United Kingdom reports that Music Therapy offers a safe place for cancer patients to explore their emotions.

Two additional studies also support the positive benefits of Music Therapy for cancer patients:

A 2013 Turkish study of 40 people, revealed how Music Therapy and visual imagery helped relieve patients from the side effects of chemotherapy. The participants’ anxiety levels were greatly reduced and physical symptoms of nausea and vomiting were eliminated. Similarly, patients receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer or breast cancer experienced a reduction in post-treatment anxiety.

A study in Southern Taiwan studied the effect of Music Therapy versus verbal relaxation on anxiety in patients receiving chemotherapy. In total, 98 patients were separated into three groups: those receiving Music Therapy, those receiving verbal guided meditation, and those receiving standard care. The results showed that Music Therapy had a positive effect on post-therapy anxiety while the two other groups didn’t experience such a reduction. Even those with a high baseline of anxiety experienced a significant drop in their intrusive thoughts after Music Therapy.

At Children’s Music Fund, we also focus on the journey to healing after treatment when rehabilitation and social integration is paramount. Music Therapy has helped equip our young survivors and their families with coping mechanisms to deal with the reintroduction into everyday life and to control their mood disturbances.

With the help of Music Therapists, young patients not only find peace, but they regain a critical sense of control over their body and mind. 

Learn more about Music Therapy here and how Music Makes Us Better here.