[jodyluell]

My stepson was diagnosed with pheunmonia, and had a ct scan as well as a x-ray. The doctor said that he has nodules on the top half and lower half of his lungs( he is 37yrs old)... he runs a auto body shop also but the big issue to me is,I know for a fact he is an addict, still using , I'm not sure if he is doing "coke" or "heroin" not sure about the drugs. I have actually witnessed it in his pocket in a little wrapper and a toot straw ( what ever you might call that ). He has to go for further testing as lung cancer did run in both sides of the family, both grandfather's are dead because of this... there's was due to the work environment... any help would be great... and I also did'nt tell his father of my discovery and not sure how to handle that either..

[inthebox]

Cancer has to be ruled out.
Primary lung or a cancer that has spread to the lung. For males 15- 35 that may be testicular.

There may be work exposure, but I think they have taken asbestosis out of brake linings, and asbestosis is associated with pleural disease not nodules.

Infections - especially since his immune system may not be working well.
- TB, fungal, pneumocystis [ ? AIDs, hiv + ]
- sometimes IV drug users infect their heart valves and they travel to the lungs = septic emboli.

other less likely cause maybe sarcoid or rheumatoid lung disease.

Does he smoke tobacco? - increases his risk for lung cancer.

I hope this is something treatable and reversible.