Kind of a tense Christmas for my family. My father discovered a lesion or mass in his lung. His sister (a non-smoker, as is Dad) died of lung cancer a number of years ago, so we were quite worried about what the lession/mass might be. It ends up that Dad has Valley Fever. It’s a fungal disease, you breathe in the spores and get flu-like symptoms and in more advanced cases (like my father’s) you can see lesions in the lungs. The disease is endemic in the American Southwest; Mom and Dad live in Arizona. Other than that, we don’t really know much about it. Has anyone here had any experience with Valley Fever? We’re relieved he doesn’t have lung cancer, of course, but he’s still pretty sick. Thanks for any information!
Valley Fever
BTW–
I had this little darling of a disease 
so I been as worried as your Dad.
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About time I met another sufferer! I got the damn stuff in the eye, and lost the vision in my right eye due to it.
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Lung for me.
Valley fever is a BIG thing here in Bakersfield. A lot of us natives actually test positive for it, but it’s not active so they just let it go. I suppose our bodies are used to it so the little spors are kept in check. That said, when people aren’t from around here but spend some time in town, we all tell them to go get checked as soon as they get home.
My friend’s mom came town with a case of it after moving here to one of the outter parts of town. Hers is VERY bad. It can (quite easily) get to the point where all they can do is give you Chemo (along with some drugs and such). Friend’s mom lost all of her hair and is weak beyond belief, can hardly stand, and is always coughing. She honestly thought she was going to die- I’m not sure if she still feels that way.
A news anchor also got Valley Fever not long after moving here for his new job. They documented his treatment- he also had to have IVs in him all the time so he could shoot himself with the drugs he needed, as well as regularly getting chemo.
Tell your dad to be VERY aggressive about this. Valley fever can get very bad VERY fast. He needs to find the best doctors and not settle for someone who read about it somewhere.
I know it sounds horrible, but if your dad is advanced in this, he is going to be sick for a very long time. I hope for you and him that it isn’t too far along and can be stopped.
Various links:
It is endemic here in Arizona. Most medicos tell us that if you’ve been here more than a couple of years, you most likely have had it.
Fortunately, some have such mild cases they don’t even know they’ve contacted it, and in most cases, they are then immune. On the other hand, it can be extremely dangerous to some people (and even to dogs), so everybody is urged to check with a physician if they have the symptoms. There are tests to determine whether you have contacted it.
My wife and I have been here 12 years and never any symptoms, so likely we had the mild cases.
Hope your dad recovers quickly.
Diosa, thanks for the links, especially to the Bakersfield paper; I had not seen that series of articles before. Thanks to you as well, Bosda; I hope you have recovered from your own lung ailment and are feeling better.
I’m not familiar with it in people, but I am familiar with it in dogs. They get it the same way. Expensive anti-fungals are needed for months to treat it. It goes without saying that someone who has experience in dealing with it should be the person to treat your Dad.
The infection is gone.
The damage to the lung is for life.
The illness occasionally makes the news in Chicago when a member of one of the baseball teams catches it during spring training in Arizona. In 2000 broadcaster Steve Stone, aged about 50 at the time, caught it and was unable to broadcast for an entire season. Last year Cub pitcher Roberto Novoa caught it, but being younger and perhaps luckier he was pitching again by the start of the season.
The Woman with the Worm in Her Head (And Other Tales of Infectious Disease)
Valley Fever is discussed in the above-referenced book, which is by an infectious disease specialist based in Los Angeles. IIRC, she gives some general background and there may be some information about finding the right specialist. Of course, the actual patients featured are her worst cases, so the stories tend to be grim.
The book has other interesting cases featured as well.