There are many reasons to enjoy music and it is clear that music improves quality of life. This research gives evidence that music helps cancer patients by reducing stress, and, perhaps by reducing pain.
“Laughter may not be the best medicine after all – for cancer patients, it’s all about the music.”
Source: Why music is good medicine
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006911.pub2/ful