![\"Brian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/OOYMD22ZAVFYJIAYVG4GVIDF3Y.jpg\")
Brian Lenihan is looking forward to a marathon run. Photograph: Dara Mac D\u00f3naill\/The Irish Times<\/p>\nIt was July 2025 when Brian Lenihan first noticed blood in his urine. It began as a small amount, but the then 44-year-old became concerned when it increased to alarming quantities, which prompted him to see a doctor.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was diagnosed with bladder cancer. I remember being in complete shock. That was the worst minute, hour, day of the whole journey. When you hear the word cancer, you just wonder is this going to be terminal?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Lenihan, a keen marathon runner, began chemotherapy and immunotherapy in September of that year. <\/p>\n
For many people, bladder cancer surgery means having a bladder removed and living with a stoma bag \u2013 a small, soft, waterproof pouch that attaches to an abdominal opening to collect waste from the body.<\/p>\n
The Limerick man, who now lives in south Dublin, was offered an alternative: a neobladder. <\/p>\n
In this procedure, a team at St Vincent\u2019s hospital in Dublin performed robotic surgery to remove his bladder and replace it with a new internal pouch created from a segment of his intestine. Following rehabilitation, it now operates like a normal bladder.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou wouldn\u2019t know unless I told you. The incision for the surgery was so small as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Dr Nikita Bhatt, a urological surgeon who specialises in robotic surgery and who led the operation, said Lenihan was one of the first patients in Ireland to have this surgery done robotically.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you get your bladder out, obviously you need a way to remove the urine through either a stoma bag or a neobladder, which is when a new bladder is formed from your bowel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brian Lenihan is looking forward to a marathon run. Photograph: Dara Mac D\u00f3naill\/The Irish Times<\/p>\n
However, Bhatt said until now the vast majority of neobladder surgeries have been done through open surgery, which has a high risk of complications.<\/p>\n
\u201cRecovery is very prolonged. But since they\u2019ve been doing robotic surgery, it\u2019s much better because people can go home. His operation took eight hours, it was completely keyhole and was able to start using his neobladder within three weeks,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Bhatt has done three of these surgeries this year so far and has another one scheduled next month. She said for Lenihan it means he doesn\u2019t have a bladder, but his body operates as if he does.<\/p>\n
\u201cA stoma bag is very obvious. It carries a certain level of stigma,\u201d she said, adding that bladder cancer is increasing in younger ages and alternative options are better to improve a person\u2019s quality of life after cancer.<\/p>\n
The shorter recovery time was something for which Lenihan was particularly grateful.<\/p>\n