I really dislike these umbrella terms for individual people. Yes, a health professional can specialise in COPD but it should me made clear to the patient that he has emphysema, chronic bronchitis or another condition that falls in to that spectrum.
My uncle had emphysema many years ago and he was in a terrible condition in his latter years but hopefully treatments have progressed since then. I have known people with chronic bronchitis who have managed the condition comparatively well.
I have asthma which cannot be compared to the COPD conditions but have known lots of people with emphysema and chronic bronchitis. All I can say is that every case seems to be different but usually progression is very slow and today diagnosis seems to be quick with chest x rays, breath tests, blood tests and other tests confirming.
There is help and support out there. This website not only has very good information it also has online groups and a telephone helpline. It is UK based.
https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/copd-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease#get-support