Denise - I AIN'T DOOMED YET!!
Dory just runs faster than me now and my hose is only 50' long!
Incidentally - Emphysema is a progressive disease but you can stop it in it's tracks when you quit smoking providing you do it in the early stages. If you smoke, have smoked, and you are over 45, insist on a spyrometer test during your physical. It can really give you a good idea on where you stand and how urgent quitting needs to be for you.
If interested, here is a link to the Diane Rehm show where Grace Ann Dorney Koppel (Ted Koppel's wife) has been fighting off COPD as well as lung cancer as a result of smoking, and she has done pretty well. She talks about all of the indicators that were missed by her doctors.
http://wamu.org/audio/dr/07/03/r1070301-12674.asx
Have the strength Lisa! Do it for yourself - do it for the ones close to you that will have to take care of you!
Brad