“I Already Have It”: A Cancer Survivor’s Healing Journey Through Music

Life after cancer isn’t always about bouncing back—it’s often about rediscovering who you are. For one woman named June, healing came not only from medical treatment, but through the transformative power of music, guided by board-certified music therapist Dean Quick at Levine Cancer Institute.

Photo from WFMT/Linkedin

For more than a decade, Dean has helped patients navigate the emotional and psychological aftermath of cancer. Through a unique therapy known as Guided Imagery and Music (GIM), he invites people into a space where music opens doors that words alone often cannot.

Dean’s work was recently featured in “The Symphony of Self – The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery & Music in Oncology,” a moving presentation from the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center Supportive Oncology Grand Rounds video series—shared by MASCC on their LinkedIn page. The session offers a compelling look at how music therapy can support the emotional well-being of cancer survivors.

The Weight of Survivorship: When Healing Means More Than Just Recovery

After completing treatment for cancer, June found herself adrift. Physically, she was recovering—but emotionally, something was missing. She felt disconnected, carrying invisible burdens that traditional therapy hadn’t quite touched.

That’s when she met Dean and began her journey through GIM—a form of therapy that uses classical music to access subconscious thoughts and emotions through imagery. With eyes closed and mind open, June began exploring her inner world.

The First Sessions: Opening a Door Within

In the early sessions, June visualized herself cleaning a mirror, confronting fiery imagery, and standing on the edge of something unknown. These weren’t just images—they were metaphors for her emotional state.

Each session deepened her journey. She flew as a bluebird between the sun and moon. She stood in awe of a golden swan and met a deer that invited her to embrace softness. She encountered a cube that “unlocked the universe.” Through these vivid images, June began to access long-suppressed emotions and reclaim her voice.

A Turning Point: “I Already Have It”

The moment everything shifted came in a final session, where June chose a blank mandala—a circle symbolizing wholeness. But this time, she didn’t feel the need to draw. “I don’t need to create anything,” she told Dean. “I already have it.”

That moment of realization wasn’t just healing—it was empowering. June no longer felt broken or lost. She felt complete.

Music as Medicine: Healing Beyond the Physical

June’s story is not unique, but it’s deeply human. Cancer survivors often face emotional and existential challenges long after treatment ends. Therapies like GIM offer a safe space for that inner healing to take place.

Dean describes music as his “co-therapist.” It’s the vessel that carries people into deeply personal experiences—experiences that help them reconnect with themselves, make meaning of their suffering, and find peace.

A Lasting Legacy: Symbols of Transformation

As June’s sessions came to a close, she chose to honor her journey with permanent symbols. A phoenix, representing rebirth. A swan, symbolizing grace. A rabbit, embracing vulnerability. They became more than tattoos—they became reminders of her resilience and her truth.

Why This Work Matters

Cancer care is evolving. More and more, institutions like Levine Cancer Institute recognize the importance of supporting the whole person—not just the illness. June’s journey reminds us that healing happens on every level: physical, emotional, spiritual.

“Sometimes we think we’re looking for something outside of ourselves,” Dean says, “but really, we already have it. We just need to remember.”

A Journey of Strength, Spirit, and Song

June’s experience through music therapy offers a new way of understanding survivorship. It’s not just about beating cancer—it’s about becoming whole again.

Her story, and the work of people like Dean Quick, invites us to ask: What if healing is already within us—just waiting for the right song to bring it to life?

If June’s story moved you, and you’d like to explore more of Dean Quick’s work, check out his YouTube channel Music Therapy for Self-Care. It’s filled with gentle, meaningful content that helps people reconnect with themselves through the healing power of music.

For more insights, explore OncoDaily‘s article!

by :- Md Foorquan Hashmi, MD, Sr. Editor, OncoDaily: India Bueura