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Medical Disability Advisor  >  Cancer Lung  >  Failure To Recover

Cancer, Lung

Related Terms

  • Bronchogenic Carcinoma
  • Carcinoma of the Lung
  • Lung Cancer
  • Lung Carcinoma
  • Malignant Neoplasm of Bronchus
  • Malignant Neoplasm of the Trachea
  • Non-small Lung Cell Carcinoma
  • NSLCC
  • SCLC
  • Small-cell Lung Carcinoma

Differential Diagnoses

Specialists

  • General Surgeon
  • Oncologist
  • Pulmonologist
  • Radiology Oncologist
  • Thoracic Surgeon

Comorbid Conditions

  • Chronic lung disease (emphysema)
  • Decreased lung function as a result of surgery or radiation therapy

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Factors Influencing Duration

Factors that may influence length of disability include the type and stage of the disease at initial presentation, any concurrent infections, overall health, type of treatment, and any complications that may result from treatment. In general, chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatments extend the length of disability.

Length of disability is also dependent on underlying lung function, which can be assessed by periodic pulmonary function tests.

Medical Codes

ICD-9-CM:
162.0 - Malignant Neoplasm of Trachea, Bronchus, and Lung; Trachea; Cartilage of Trachea; Mucosa of Trachea
162.2 - Malignant Neoplasm of Trachea, Bronchus, and Lung; Trachea; Main Bronchus; Carina; Hilus of Lung
162.3 - Neoplasm, Upper Lobe, Bronchus or Lung, Malignant
162.4 - Neoplasm, Middle Lobe, Bronchus or Lung, Malignant
162.5 - Neoplasm, Lower Lobe, Bronchus or Lung, Malignant
162.8 - Neoplasm, Other Parts of Bronchus or Lung, Malignant
162.9 - Malignant Neoplasm of Trachea, Bronchus, and Lung; Bronchus and Lung, Unspecified
197.0 - Secondary Malignant Neoplasm of Respiratory and Digestive Systems; Lung, Bronchus
231.2 - Carcinoma in Situ of Bronchus and Lung; Carina, Hilus of Lung

Failure to Recover

If an individual fails to recover within the expected maximum duration period, the reader may wish to consider the following questions to better understand the specifics of an individual's medical case.

Regarding diagnosis:

  • Does individual present with symptoms (persistent cough, coughing up blood [hemoptysis], shortness of breath [dyspnea], chest pain, weight loss, hoarseness, and localized bone pain) of lung cancer?
  • Were diagnostic tests performed?
  • Were conditions (bronchitis, tuberculosis, pneumonia, fungal infections of the lung, lung abscess, benign neoplasms of the lung, and metastatic cancer that has spread to the lung from another organ) with similar symptoms ruled out?
  • Was the diagnosis of lung cancer confirmed?
  • What type does individual have, small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) or non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC)?

Regarding treatment:

  • If surgical treatment was utilized, was the tumor completely removed?
  • Has the tumor metastasized into other organ systems?
  • If not already being used, would chemotherapy and/or radiation treatments be beneficial?
  • Is treatment goal considered curative or palliative at this point?
  • How effective are current treatments in achieving their goals?
  • What more can be done?
  • Are medications being utilized, as appropriate?
  • Are pain relief efforts effective?
  • What more can be done to make individual comfortable?

Regarding prognosis:

  • Has the cancer metastasized?
  • Has individual contracted pneumonia, resulting in airway obstruction?
  • Does individual exhibit confusion, disturbances of gait and balance, headache, and personality changes?
  • Is individual experiencing bone pain, fractures, spinal cord injury, anemia, headache, dizziness, syncope, or vision disturbances?
  • Has individual experienced any other complications?
  • Does individual have an underlying condition that may impact recovery such as emphysema or decreased lung function as a result of surgery or radiation therapy?
  • Was individual's condition classified as limited stage or extensive stage disease?
  • Would additional surgery or addition of combination chemotherapy be beneficial at this stage in the disease?
  • Would chemotherapy add to the duration of survival?
  • Does individual (or individual's family) need assistance in caring for individual? Would individual/family benefit from social services evaluation?
  • Was individual/family introduced to the services hospice provides?

Source: Medical Disability Advisor


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