Cancer continues to be a global community health menace. Its weight cannot be explained by biological complexity only; the course of the disease is also determined by the emotional, social and behavioral reactions of the individual, family and community. Despite the enormous progress made on techniques of cancer detection and treatment, there are still many issues of cancer management that could not be explained by science alone. Similar to the role that was suggested by the Institute of Medicine (2008) and Holland et al. (2015), access to information, emotional responses, personal beliefs, and social perceptions also shape the cancer experience, defining the nature of the disease, its experiential aspects, and the kind of support offered in immediate settings. These issues are further exacerbated by a lack of awareness, misunderstanding about risk, and cancer-related stigma in low- and middle-income countries. These conditions often spur late diagnosis and treatment. Despite the existence of benefits of early detection, any care-seeking might be avoided because of fear or stigma, as well as social isolation (Farmer et al., 2010; Sankaranarayan et al., 2018). However, the traditional models of cancer care have mostly been characterized by clinical treatment and have not given them adequate consideration of these psychosocial drivers, such as fear, stigma, and social isolation, which can significantly impact patients' willingness to seek care (Holland et al., 2015). There is now strong evidence in psychosocial oncology that non-medical factors greatly contribute to cancer outcomes. These aspects were found to be relevant to the implementation of preventive behaviors (Stanton et al., 2015), screening maintenance (Holland et al., 2015), and treatment adherence. As a result of this, one should not consider cancer as a mere medical experience alone; it is a highly personal experience of uncertainty and anticipation whereby people are forced to make sense not only of the diagnosis per se but also of its assimilation into everyday life. The classic health-behavior theories, i.e., the Health Belief Model (Rosenstock et al., 1988) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991), have contributed greatly to our knowledge about health decision-making and perception of risk. Unfortunately, a thorough description of the cancer-related behavior has been provided by these models, which majorly pay attention to the individual process of cognition. According to Brewer et al. (2007), the emotional load of cancer, the effect of the stigma, and the presence of effectiveness in other members of the family and health-care systems have not been sufficiently described in detail throughout or throughout the cancer process. To overcome these limitations, the paper suggests the Psychosocial Cancer Behavior Model (PsyCaB). Combining the results of behavioral science and psychosocial research, the model is expected to offer a more consistent approach to cancer-related behavior. It does not only consider what people are aware of about cancer but also how it is experienced, construed and negotiated in social and institutional settings throughout the course of its history. This systemic perspective may be utilized to investigate in parallel emotional, social, and systemic vulnerabilities, thus creating a more solid basis for the design of interventions that will address not only biological needs but also psychological, social, and structural barriers to accessing effective cancer care (based on Elliason, 2026; Wardle et al., 2015).

Cancer remains a major threat to public health worldwide. While biological factors play a crucial role, the disease's progression is also influenced by how individuals, families, and communities respond emotionally, socially, and behaviorally. Even with significant advances in cancer detection and treatment methods, many aspects of cancer management cannot be fully understood through scientific approaches alone. Research by the Institute of Medicine (2008) and Holland et al. (2015) shows that information access, emotional reactions, personal beliefs, and social attitudes all influence how people experience cancer, shaping both the disease's impact and the support available in their immediate environment. In low- and middle-income countries, these challenges become more severe due to limited awareness, misconceptions about risk factors, and widespread cancer-related stigma. Such conditions frequently lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Even though early detection offers clear benefits, people may avoid seeking medical care because of fear, stigma, or concerns about social rejection (Farmer et al., 2010; Sankaranarayan et al., 2018). Traditional cancer care models have primarily focused on clinical treatment while failing to adequately address these psychological and social factors like fear, stigma, and isolation that can significantly affect patients' decisions to seek help (Holland et al., 2015). Research in psychosocial oncology now provides compelling evidence that non-medical elements substantially influence cancer outcomes. These factors have proven important for encouraging preventive behaviors (Stanton et al., 2015), maintaining regular screening (Holland et al., 2015), and ensuring treatment compliance. Therefore, cancer should not be viewed simply as a medical condition but rather as a deeply personal journey filled with uncertainty and worry, where individuals must understand not just their diagnosis but also how to integrate it into their daily lives. Established health behavior frameworks like the Health Belief Model (Rosenstock et al., 1988) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991) have significantly advanced our understanding of health-related decision-making and risk perception. However, these models primarily focus on individual cognitive processes and fail to adequately capture the emotional burden of cancer, the impact of stigma, and the influence of family members and healthcare systems throughout the cancer journey, as noted by Brewer et al. (2007). To address these gaps, this paper introduces the Psychosocial Cancer Behavior Model (PsyCaB). Drawing from behavioral science and psychosocial research findings, this model aims to provide a more comprehensive framework for understanding cancer-related behavior. It examines not only what people know about cancer but also how they experience, interpret, and navigate it within social and institutional contexts over time. This broader perspective allows for simultaneous examination of emotional, social, and systemic factors, establishing a stronger foundation for developing interventions that address not just biological needs but also the psychological, social, and structural obstacles to effective cancer care (based on Elliason, 2026; Wardle et al., 2015).