The Effect of EMT on Anxiety Levels and Perception of Waiting Time in the Radiation Oncology Waiting Room

This study will be investigating the effects of environmental music therapy (EMT) on patient and caregiver anxiety levels and perceptions of waiting time for patients undergoing radiation therapy. Environmental music therapy is live music offered by a music therapist with the intention of modifying patients' and caregivers' perception of the environment itself and in so doing provide an experience of enhanced comfort and relaxation. One hundred and sixty patients and their caregivers, when present, who are diagnosed with Cancer, including head & neck, breast, prostate, lymphoma, gastro-intestinal, and skin cancers, as well as other cancers will be identified and referred by Mount Sinai Downtown radiation oncology attending doctors prior to their arrival in the waiting room of the Radiation Oncology Suite. All Cancer subjects will be considered regardless of gender or racial/ethnic background, and health status with the exception of those less than 18 years of age. Only patients who are fluent in English will be eligible to enroll in the study. Patients will randomly be assigned to the control or environmental music group. The patients in the control group will be able to receive music therapy during radiation therapy, even though they will not have music therapy during their waiting room time, as is the focus of this study.