[2][3] It is not performed on patients that have lung cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
Tumor size, type, and location are major factors as to whether a lobectomy is performed.
Lung lobectomies are performed on patients as young as eleven or twelve who have no cancer or smoking history, but have conditions from birth or early childhood that necessitate the operation.
[4][5] Such patients will have reduced lung capacity which tends to limit their range of activities through life.
They often need to use inhalers on a daily basis, and are often classified as being asthmatic.