How long can someone expect to live with emphysema lung disease without treatment?

Can vary: This can vary considerably. There are multiple severities. Treatment can vary from oxygen to just not smoking. If we all live long enough due to the elasticity loss in our lungs we would all have emphysema (that may be 220 years though!). This is the destruction of lung tissue we need to get oxygen. In general it is a slow process (years!). Infections and other medical prob can shorten life.

Depends on how bad: That depends a lot on how severe the emphysema is, whether you are still smoking, whether you have symptoms of shortness of breath or coughing or wheezing, etc. Some people do just fine without treatment. Others, depending on the above factors, definitely need treatment. There are great treatments for emphysema, and they can help you feel better and breathe better.