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 year. 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.