Lung mass questions

[KristenBrown]

Hello all, recently my father in-law has been short of breath, tired and complaining of not feeling well. We urged him to seek a doctors opinion, and the doctor took some blood, did some tests and took a chest x-ray. The results of the chest x-ray showed a "mass" in his left lung. His doctor sent him to Mass General, where they have done a CT and more blood work and he has been admitted to have a biopsy done, we haven't heard much else. I am trying to stay positive I really am nervous that this is lung cancer- I don't know what else it could be the doctors all seem "cautious" about saying anything. I really would like to know if anyone knows more about lung masses than myself (which wouldn't be hard) Thank You Kristen

[Timber]

Is/was he a smoker?

[KristenBrown]

He was a smoker for 20 years but he hasn't smoked in a very long time...something like 20 years....I think that is what his family said.

[curdburns]

My dad was having shortness of breath and pain in his test. X-Rays revealed very little. The Dr. couldn't hear breath sounds in his lower right lung. He then went for a CT Scan and the scan revealed a mass. The dr.'s did numerous blood test to rule out Pneumonia. They put him on Antibiotics any way and Advair. Sent him home to see if the Antibiotics help. Then he goes back for another CT Scan Sept.,2004. He worked at a Tank car company in East Gary,Indiana for 45 yrs. The Dr. asked him if he had ever been exposed to Asbestos. The mass in his lung is made up of stringy fibers. Dad used to mis powdered Asbestos with water to make a putty to fill holes in welds. He didn't use it all the time but he was exposed. What are his chances of having been poisoned by the Asbestos. Are the Asbestos causing this problem???????