Recent Advances in Psychosocial and Behavioral Oncology

Cancer is, in many ways, a behavioral problem. Since researchers estimate that we could prevent, or at least successfully treat, more than half of all cancers if people changed their behaviors so as to reduce risk of developing the disease and increase likelihood of early detection and treatment if it does develop (Tubiana, 1991). In addition to prevention and early detection, psychosocial and behavioral factors play a role in determining quality of life once individuals develop cancer, degree to which individuals can successfully manage some treatment-related symptoms and perhaps even outcome of treatment.