What is BCPC?

Behavioral Cancer Prevention and Control (BCPC) Research 

is a multidisciplinary enterprise that focuses on a number of exciting interrelated topics.  BCPC researchers are often psychologists, epidemiologists, or other public health experts. Below are some examples of the work that BCPC researcher typically do. 

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1. Cancer Prevention: research typically includes studies of diet, exercise, and energy balance, sleep, alcohol and tobacco use, sun exposure, and other modifiable risk factors, as well as biobehavioral (e.g., trauma, stress reactivity) and behavioral genetic risk factors for cancer. 

2. Early Detection: research often focuses on understanding factors that contribute to compliance with recommended guidelines for cancer screening (e.g., mammography, colonoscopy, low-dose computed tomography, etc.) and genetic testing for cancer risk (e.g., BRCA testing). 

3. Diagnosis, Treatment, & Symptom Management: research typically includes studies of physician-patient communication, shared decision-making, behavioral management of treatment side effects (e.g., hypnosis for pain, nausea, and fatigue), and decisions about, and psychosocial consequences of, palliative care. 

4. Survivorship: research often focuses on coping, social support, psychosocial outcomes, decision-making, surveillance and follow-up, end-of-life care, and benefit finding.

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