Posted at: 11/03/2009 7:08 PM
By: Axel Gumbel

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Medical Edge: Bladder Surgery

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- Bladder cancer and its surgery can dramatically change a patient's life, making some usually normal activities almost impossible.

But now, a new solution could be on the horizon.

24-year-old Devi Chettiar has not let bladder cancer slow her down.

"It was probably the best thing and the worst thing that happened to me," says Devi.

The best, because Devi realized her strengths, but the worst because she had to endure major surgery during which doctors removed her entire bladder.

It was the only way they could be sure the cancer was gone.

That surgery could mean she'd need an outside bag to collect urine.

"So we discussed with her the possibility of reconstructing her urinary tract and making what we call a new bladder, a neobladder," says Mayo Clinic Dr. Michael Blute.

Dr. Michael Blute and his team at Mayo Clinic first removed the bladder to make sure no cancer remained.

With part of the bowel they formed a new bladder and attached it to the urethra.

And because they were able to spare the muscles that control urine flow, devi ended up with a new bladder that functions like a normal one.

"It's not the same urge to go as with a usual bladder. it is a little different, but I’m used to it after four-and-a-half years," says Devi.

Devi is cancer free now and she says the experience taught her many things.

"I kind of made me realize how fragile life is, and it also made me realize that I want to go into medicine,” says Devi.

To help others as Dr. Blute and his team helped her.