From Chemo Chair to Center Stage: How One Alexandria Mother Turned Treatment into “Club Chemo”

Alexandria, VA — At Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, the steady hum of infusion machines is often the soundtrack to long hours of cancer treatment. But in one room of the unit, something different is happening.

Music fills the space. Sometimes it’s soft and reflective. Other times, it’s upbeat enough to inspire movement. On those days, patients, nurses, and even visitors may find themselves smiling, swaying—or simply breathing a little easier.

At the center of it all is Saletta (pronounced sa-LEE-ta), 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.”

Like many patients, her diagnosis followed months of symptoms she initially dismissed. “They would come, and then I wouldn’t see them for months,” she said. Now, she reflects on how easily warning signs can be overlooked. “Would it have been stage zero or one if it had been caught six months earlier?”

But her story is not rooted in regret. It is defined by what came next.

Saletta has deep roots in Northern Virginia, having spent the majority of her life in the area after graduating from Howard University.

Viewing Alexandria as the “world’s biggest classroom,” she treasures the city as a crossroads of culture, diversity, and varied perspectives. Her bond with the community is so profound that she named her daughter, now 16, after Alexandria.

Throughout her career in marketing communications, Saletta has gained diverse experience in public relations, news media, and both print and broadcast journalism, with a strong emphasis on the power of connection and storytelling.

These professional skills now inform her approach to her cancer journey, as she actively seeks to redefine her experience with treatment. 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.”

Initially, she was hesitant. Hospitals are inherently clinical environments. However, something about the atmosphere at Inova changed her perspective.

“When you have the privilege of your own space, I thought—why not turn the music on and up when the opportunity arises?” she said.

That decision signaled the start of “Club Chemo.”

What started as a personal coping mechanism—playing music, setting a mood, creating a small sense of control—quickly evolved into something more. The atmosphere changed. The energy shifted. And others began to take notice.

“I had to get rid of the tissues and get a soundtrack,” she said.

Saletta’s experience is part of a broader initiative at Inova Schar Cancer Institute, where the Arts and Healing program is integrated into patient care.

“The Arts and Healing program is a core part of how we deliver cancer care at Inova,” said Monica Delaney, senior program manager for the initiative. “It includes our Artists-in-Residence program, as well as performances and visual art installations across our facilities.”

From curated artwork in waiting rooms to live performances in treatment areas, the program is designed to shape the patient experience in meaningful ways.

“We are very intentional about what patients see and experience when they walk into these spaces,” Delaney said. “The environment is extremely important in terms of their healing journey.”

“This is one of the few programs at Inova that is 100 percent supported by philanthropic funds,” Delaney noted. “We are here because people have decided this is something valuable and worthwhile—and they want to support it. She added, “We’ve had people who haven’t even participated in the program, but they’ve seen an art card or heard someone talk about what it meant,” she said. “There’s something so powerful about that.”

A key part of Saletta’s “Club Chemo” experience 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.

Hacker was introduced to the program by another musician and quickly found that the work held deeper meaning. (Learn more about Caleb Hacker here on his website.)

“Using something that I love to uplift patients and staff—that’s the greatest reward,” he said.

His visits are adaptable to each patient’s needs. “Sometimes they last 10 to 15 minutes; other times, they can extend to an hour or more,” he explained. “I try to assure patients that I have all the time in the world for them.” For patients like Saletta, those interactions can transform the experience of treatment.

What could be hours of stillness and anxiety can become moments of connection.

“Art, and music in particular, has the power to shift your perspective,” Hacker noted, emphasizing that maintaining a positive outlook is vital when navigating the challenges of a cancer diagnosis. This work has provided his own music with a more profound sense of mission; he now aims for his compositions to do more than entertain, hoping they serve as a source of encouragement and strength for others.

Saletta shares this sentiment, viewing music as a therapeutic tool and a gateway to emotional release. She believes that lyrics frequently mirror one’s personal life story, leading her to the firm conviction that music functions as a form of medicine. This philosophy is one she advocates extensively, frequently using the hashtag #MusicIsMedicine in her digital and personal interactions.

There is a traditional bell-ringing ceremony that symbolizes the end of therapy in many cancer centers. However, true to the spirit of “Club Chemo,” Saletta intends to personalize the ritual to better reflect her specific experience and the resilience she found in her musical sanctuary.

The creator of “Club Chemo” envisions a ceremony that truly reflects the essence of her journey. A staff member noted that Saletta won’t be ringing a bell to signify the end of her treatment—she is “dancing out.” This vivid imagery perfectly encapsulates a patient who has completely reimagined the treatment experience.

See Saletta’s “dancing out” here. Surrounded by the supportive staff at Inova, Saletta continues her journey toward recovery, moving forward with grace and warmth. Video by Lindsay Gelman

While Saletta’s journey is uniquely her own, the implications of her experience reach far beyond her individual treatment. Her perspective aligns with an evolving philosophy in modern healthcare: the recognition that true healing must address the emotional and communal spirit alongside the physical body.

The success of the Arts and Healing program is driving its continued growth, with plans underway to introduce additional creative initiatives across more Inova cancer centers. Learn more here: https://foundation.inova.org/artsandhealing/

Saletta’s objective was never to dismiss the gravity of her cancer diagnosis; instead, she sought a different way to engage with it. By integrating music, purposeful movement, and clear intention, she transformed a challenging environment into a surprising sanctuary of joy.

As she continues her path toward recovery, one element of her journey is certain:

She will never face it without a soundtrack.