It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month: New ICD-10 codes

Each year, we recognize October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer effects around 252,000 women and 2,400 men each yearopens in a new tab. Early detection and prevention can be achieved by performing monthly self-check breast exams and/or early screening mammograms. Breast cancer’s most common symptom is detected as a lump or mass in the breast, typically described as a hard mass which is often painless. According to the American Cancer Society, deaths related to breast cancer are down 39 percent since 1989.

Also, in the coding world, October 1 means the addition of new and revised ICD-10 codes. This year, the ICD-10 code N63, Lump in Breast has been expanded to a six-digit code which more specifically identifies the laterality and location of lumps with the breast area. This expansion will allow improved statistical collection for data and reporting.

Here is a list of Codes from that category:

• Add N63.1 Unspecified lump in the right breast
• Add N63.10 Unspecified lump in the right breast, unspecified quadrant
• Add N63.11 Unspecified lump in the right breast, upper outer quadrant
• Add N63.12 Unspecified lump in the right breast, upper inner quadrant
• Add N63.13 Unspecified lump in the right breast, lower outer quadrant
• Add N63.14 Unspecified lump in the right breast, lower inner quadrant
• Add N63.2 Unspecified lump in the left breast
• Add N63.20 Unspecified lump in the left breast, unspecified quadrant
• Add N63.21 Unspecified lump in the left breast, upper outer quadrant
• Add N63.22 Unspecified lump in the left breast, upper inner quadrant
• Add N63.23 Unspecified lump in the left breast, lower outer quadrant
• Add N63.24 Unspecified lump in the left breast, lower inner quadrant
• Add N63.3 Unspecified lump in axillary tail
• Add N63.31 Unspecified lump in axillary tail of the right breast
• Add N63.32 Unspecified lump in axillary tail of the left breast
• Add N63.4 Unspecified lump in breast, subareolar
• Add N63.41 Unspecified lump in right breast, subareolar
• Add N63.42 Unspecified lump in left breast, subareolar

And now my PSA:

I would like to encourage all women and men, with and without a family history of malignant neoplasm of the breast, to screen for breast cancer. Mark your calendar! Make this an annual event: Do something like taking your friends or sisters along for a group date to have your mammograms done together. Most imaging centers have updated their waiting rooms to accommodate a spa-like atmosphere and some even offer mimosas! It does not have to be a scary event. Besides, this is your support system and if you are like me, my friends were there for me when I thought I had to walk alone.

I am a longtime volunteer for annual fundraising walks and personal screening and this year I celebrate my 10-year breast cancer survival.

Cecilia Charles is a clinical development analyst at 3M Health Information Systems.