Stan, thanks so much for your input- helps me see ahead. I saw the Rheumatologist today and he does not think it is autoimmune. He thinks I should do thoracentesis and will send his report to Mayo Pulmonologist. He did a recheck on my blood work and inflammation markers ESR and CRP are still quite elevated. He told me the Methylprednisolone they gave me in the ER is "industrial strength"!!! That is why I felt better! He gave me six-day dose to feel better now, but Steroids only mask things and need to know what the cause is. And things are getting worse. Not only do I have the side and deep breath pain for two weeks now, but for the last two days I have felt really rotten. I would expect that an analysis of the pleural fluid would be very significant not only for what ails me now but further info on my lung cancer. If it is an infection from bacteria, I have another problem as I got C-diff from amoxicillin and have avoided oral antibiotics since. My trip is off, so I am down in the dumps.