Coding a history of breast cancer when the patient has active breast cancer? Two different orders for same patient have the RFV as "personal history of breast cancer" and "malignant neoplasm of breast". "Personal history of breast cancer" was used for a screening mammogram Z12.31, and the active cancer code for another diagnostic test. I wanted to ask the provider if the patient had cancer or a history of it, since you can't have both at the same time. Apparently the RFV "malignant neoplasm of breast" is correct, and the "personal history of breast cancer" is also correct - and you can use both of these on the same encounter.
This doesn't make sense in my mind, because I was taught that for it to be a history code, it cannot be an active disease. You either have cancer, or you have a history of cancer.
This doesn't make sense in my mind, because I was taught that for it to be a history code, it cannot be an active disease. You either have cancer, or you have a history of cancer.