Name: The leading risk factor for cancer isn’t what you think by Beyond.ubc.ca
Duration: 6 min 26 s
Description: If you were to ask most people what causes cancer, the answer would probably be smoking, alcohol, the sun, hair dye or some other avoidable element. But the most important risk factor for cancer is something else: aging. That’s right, the factor most associated with cancer is unavoidable—and a condition that we will all experience.

If you were to ask most people what causes cancer, the answer would probably be smoking, alcohol, the sun, hair dye or some other avoidable element. But the most important risk factor for cancer is something else: aging. That’s right, the factor most associated with cancer is unavoidable—and a condition that we will all experience.

The leading risk factor for cancer isn’t what you think

Across the world, climate change disproportionately impacts the lives of girls, yet children are often forgotten in climate policy. I recently led a team of student researchers from the University of British Columbia to better understand why this is the case during field research in the Dominican Republic.

Advancing the rights of girls and women promotes justice and is also effective climate action

Ensuring that Indigenous peoples have control over data related to Residential Schools, health, census and more is crucial to truth and reconciliation in Canada

What is Indigenous data sovereignty and why does it matter?

People may feel awkward or unsure if they’re doing or saying the right things, say Dr. Michelle Stack and Dr. Heidi L. Janz—friends and professors of education and disability ethics—but we all have a role to play in challenging ableism

Dos and don’ts to help tackle ableism

Exploring the evolution of Black women’s voices from blues to Beyoncé

How Black women have used their voices to resist oppression

While white women may speak of breaking through the “glass ceiling,” for many Black women, it’s more like a “concrete ceiling.” Black women experience unique and formidable barriers in the workforce that are not only difficult to break, but also obscure their view of career advancement opportunities.

Smashing the ‘concrete ceiling’: Black women are still missing from corporate leadership

Few events capture the global imagination the way the FIFA World Cup does. The tournament is more than just a series of soccer matches; it’s a cultural phenomenon that transcends borders, languages and social categories.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup is closing its gap with the men’s tournament

Healthy eating supports healthy aging: Canada’s Food Guide recommends daily intake of fruits and vegetables as a way to help prevent multiple chronic conditions that typically affect older adults. 

Staying socially connected can help maintain healthy eating with age, especially for older women

Factory-built modular and prefab housing could help build housing faster and cheaper

How Canada can turn tariff tensions into a global affordable housing alliance

The media make an urgent case that democracy is threatened and autocrats are gaining ground. Democracy fatigue is in large part attributable to an inherently slow process, requiring many compromises and engagement by citizens. I argue that we are not helpless and offer action strategies to make the effort required to maintain democracy more palatable.

Four actions to support a sustainable democracy

Protein is having its moment: From grocery store shelves to Instagram feeds, high-protein foods are everywhere. Food labels shout their protein content in bold, oversized fonts, while social media overflows with recipes promising to pack more protein into your favourite dishes.

An excellent source of protein: Health, hype and hard truths

Beyond UBC is where you’ll find stories relevant to your daily life. Powered by UBC Brand and Marketing, our award-winning content is sourced from research experts at the University of British Columbia. We aim to provide a deeper understanding of today’s issues and offer solutions to help shape a better world. We support UBC researchers by helping to make their research relatable to the general public, so that it makes a real impact.

The leading risk factor for cancer isn’t what you think

Beyond.ubc.ca

Related tracks