What diagnosis should be used for a patient who is finished with treatment of their breast cancer, but remains on Tamoxifen?
Tamoxifen therapy can either be curative or palliative. Here are three examples of when and how Tamoxifen therapy should be coded.Example #1The patient had a breast malignancy and is status post mastectomy. She completed her course of chemotherapy and radiation six months ago and is now being prescribed Tamoxifen as adjuvant treatment. Tamoxifen therapy was not started until after the chemotherapy course was finished.Assign:174.9, Malignant neoplasm of female breast, Breast (female), unspecifiedV58.69, Long-term (use) current of other medicationsExplanation:Tamoxifen is being prescribed as adjuvant or additional therapy to prevent a recurrence, following treatment of primary breast cancer. Adjuvant or additional therapy is still considered part of the cancer treatment. Since the patient is still receiving active treatment for the breast malignancy, code 174.9 is assigned instead of code V10.3.Example #2The patient has a history of breast cancer, status post mastectomy with completed co
Tamoxifen therapy can either be curative or palliative. Here are three examples of when and how Tamoxifen therapy should be coded. Example #1 The patient had a breast malignancy and is status post mastectomy. She completed her course of chemotherapy and radiation six months ago and is now being prescribed Tamoxifen as adjuvant treatment. Tamoxifen therapy was not started until after the chemotherapy course was finished. Assign: 174.9, Malignant neoplasm of female breast, Breast (female), unspecified V58.69, Long-term (use) current of other medications Explanation: Tamoxifen is being prescribed as adjuvant or additional therapy to prevent a recurrence, following treatment of primary breast cancer. Adjuvant or additional therapy is still considered part of the cancer treatment. Since the patient is still receiving active treatment for the breast malignancy, code 174.9 is assigned instead of code V10.3. Example #2 The patient has a history of breast cancer, status post mastectomy with com
