Club Chemo: How One Woman Is Transforming Cancer Treatment with Music
Alexandria, VA – At Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, the steady hum of infusion machines is often the soundtrack to cancer treatment. But in one room of the unit, something different is happening.
Music fills the space. Sometimes soft and reflective. Other times, upbeat enough to inspire movement. Patients, nurses, and visitors find themselves smiling, swaying — or simply breathing a little easier.
At the center of it all is Saletta, a longtime Alexandria resident who has transformed her chemotherapy sessions into what she calls “Club Chemo” — a space where music, resilience, and community meet.
Diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer on August 25, 2025, Saletta decided early on that while she could not control her diagnosis, she could shape her experience.
“This has been different,” she said. “When you’re so accustomed to being at 1,000 percent energy, having that taken away has been extremely humbling.”
Her diagnosis followed months of symptoms she initially dismissed. “Would it have been stage zero or one if it had been caught six months earlier?” she reflects — not with regret, but as a quiet reminder to others.
Saletta has deep roots in Northern Virginia, having spent the majority of her life here after graduating from Howard University. Her bond with Alexandria runs so deep she named her daughter, now 16, after the city. A marketing communications professional with a background in journalism and public relations, she has long understood the power of storytelling. Now, she’s telling a new one.
In the infusion suite, Saletta made a conscious decision: she would not remain silent. “Everybody has a song,” she said. “Whether it’s your theme song or how you navigate your day — there’s a song for every hour of the day, for me.”
“When you have the privilege of your own space, I thought — why not turn the music on and up?” she said. “I had to get rid of the tissues and get a soundtrack.”
That decision sparked Club Chemo. What started as a personal coping mechanism quickly evolved into something more. The atmosphere changed. The energy shifted. Others took notice.
Saletta’s experience is part of a broader initiative at Inova Schar Cancer Institute, where the Arts and Healing program is woven into patient care — from curated artwork in waiting rooms to live performances in treatment areas.
“The Arts and Healing program is a core part of how we deliver cancer care at Inova,” said Monica Delaney, senior program manager. “We are very intentional about what patients see and experience. The environment is extremely important to their healing journey.”
A key part of Club Chemo has been the presence of artists like Caleb Hacker, a Northern Virginia native and professional musician who has been part of the Artists-in-Residence program since 2020.
“Using something that I love to uplift patients and staff — that’s the greatest reward,” he said. His visits adapt to each patient’s needs, sometimes lasting 15 minutes, sometimes over an hour. “I try to assure patients that I have all the time in the world for them.”
For Saletta, those interactions transformed treatment. Hours of stillness and anxiety became moments of connection. She believes music is more than comfort — it’s medicine. It’s a philosophy she shares widely, using the hashtag #MusicIsMedicine in her daily life.
Many cancer centers mark the end of treatment with a traditional bell-ringing ceremony. Saletta has other plans. In true Club Chemo fashion, she won’t be ringing anything.
She’s dancing out.
A sudden cancer diagnosis can upend every aspect of life—especially for a single mother raising a teenager. In an instant, routines built around school, work, and home shift to doctor visits, treatment schedules, and difficult conversations. Beyond the physical toll, there is the emotional strain of staying strong for a child while facing uncertainty, as well as the financial burden of medical bills and lost income. For a teen, watching a parent navigate illness can bring fear, confusion, and a need to grow up quickly. Yet in these moments, community support can make a meaningful difference. Friends, neighbors, and even strangers can help ease the load, offering hope and stability when it’s needed most. If you’d like to support Saletta on this journey, please consider contributing here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-saletta-colemans-fight-against-cancer
