Challenges and Suggestions in Management of Lung and Liver Cancer in Uzbekistan: The Second Report of the Uzbekistan–Korea Oncology Consortium

Abstract

The health burden of cancer increases in Uzbekistan as the country develops and the life expectancy increases. Management of such a burden requires efficient screening, treatment optimization, and investigation of the causes of cancer. The Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan formed an advisory consortium, including clinical oncology and healthcare management experts from Uzbekistan and South Korea, to design a strategy for cancer management. Our consortium has analyzed six cancer types with high morbidity and mortality in Uzbekistan by classifying them into three categories (breast, cervical (gynecologic cancers), lung, liver (cancer common in men), stomach, and colorectal cancers (gastrointestinal cancers)). Lung and liver cancers are common causes of death in men after middle age—they can yield a serious health burden on the country and ruin the livelihood of families. In this review, we will analyze the oncologic literature and suggest practical recommendations for the treatment and prevention of lung and liver cancer in Uzbekistan. Data from South Korea, which has conducted nationwide screening for two decades and made progress in improving prognosis, will be discussed as a comparative control.