Hi 12 years ago my mum had right side lobectomy due to lung cancer while she had copd after a few complications (heart attack) she made a full recovery and was cancer free for 12 yrs.it did come back but left side..found it due to a blood clot on lung..so surgery again was out of question..but radiotherapy got rid of it ........although mum's story isn't a happy ending it wasnt cancer that got her in the end.....I do know that in mum's case they didn't go ahead with lobotomy again due to poor lung function..so in our experience if they had any concerns about lung function it would of been very carefully considered before it was mentioned dad...hope it helps x 

Thanks so much for replying. 12 years cancer free is amazing - my dad is 81 so extra years mean everything. Was the heart attack due to the surgery?

they have made the risks very clear with his FEV1 and breathing but like you say I am sure they wouldnt go ahead if it was too risky for them. How was her breathing after surgery? Did it affect it? x

Hi i won't lie yes it did effect her breathing somewhat but the benefit far out weighed the downside ...mum was younger than your dad by a fair amount 56 first time and 68 when she got it second time the heart attack was due to a  jnr Dr being too eager to remove the drain from lung...he didn't remove stitch holding it in place and just yanked it out(please don't let that detail scare you it's very rare) but still 12years of cancer free was amazing after every thing.

she passed away in September but it was a complication of the cpod a horrible bug called aspergilis....but she beat cancer twice with copd so I take that as a win as off as that sounds i am sending healing thoughts to your dad and family x

I am so sorry for your loss :( 

Was her COPD very bad at the time of surgery? Thats what worries me and how bad he is going to be after surgery (as his breathing is already bad) For 81 he does do amazing though.

COPD is awful isnt it. Why cant they find a cure or something for it x

Her breathing wasn't great at time of I'm so please take comfort that it was not overly affected after...although have a part removed will always lessen it if that makes sense i truly think when you see Drs with dad to discuss it you will feel better..it's very scary stuff but pro out weighed come type thing...thank you for your kind regards losing mum was a blow but it was kinder than what the infection did so I take comfort I'm the old adage of no more pain or suffering xx