Surprise COPD diagnosis during cancer investigation

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So my dad smoked 20 a day for 50+ years. Had had bladder cancer (major surgery, chemo, iliostomy bag) and stayed 'on the books' due to them spotting lung nodules.

One of these has changed recently, so he's had a PET scan and lung function tests. Biopsy for confirmatory diagnosis difficult due to size so watch and wait approach recommended.

Letter to gp (copy) came through today with summary of telephone consultation with lung specialist, showing - low lung function, small enlarging nodule that shows markers for malignancy, and COPD.

The COPD is completely new news to us - it's never been discussed, and was certainly never mentioned at the telephone consult last week.

Any suggestions of useful questions he/we should ask when he calls to speak to the GP or specialist on Monday?

We've just about got our heads around waiting 6m longer for the lung cancer to be confirmed and treatment plans devised/started, with COPD now in the mix does this complicate the cancer treatment?

Any useful websites we should be poring over?

Thanks x

My DH had COPD and lung cancer coexisting. There were no complications for the chemo and cancer treatment, apart from after he had his pneumonectomy, he was in intensive care for a longer period than anticipated. DH did not tell me he had COPD - he had known for 10 years but hadn't experienced any symptoms so didn't realise it was a serious condition.

It’s not at all uncommon - smoking causes copd, lung cancer and bladder cancer. Most important thing he can do, if he hasn’t already, is stop smoking. If they prescribe inhalers then take them and probably get the flu, pneumonia & covid vaccines if he hasn’t already. How much it complicates any potential lung cancer treatment will be influenced by where the possible tumour is, his lung function numbers and what his functional capacity is like. Hope it all turns out well.