A teenage volleyball star from Perth should be celebrating the end of high school.

Instead, she is facing the fight of her life after being diagnosed with an aggressive and incredibly rare form of bladder cancer at just 17.

Amy Schutze, from Craigie in Perth's northern suburbs, was a fun-loving student who played volleyball at a state level, coached kids at her local sports centre and had just completed the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award for her leadership, community service and adventurous spirit.

But in July this year, her world was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with bladder cancer - a disease so rare in someone her age that even her GP was shocked.

'Bladder cancer isn't spoken about very often, because it's usually found in older men,' Amy told Daily Mail.

'When mine was first discovered, my GP asked if I'd smoked or worked with chemicals, which I don't, and we have no family history.

'I think it was just shock more than anything, because I was pretty normal and healthy.'

Like many teens, Amy brushed off her first symptoms because they started so subtly, thinking maybe she just had a urinary tract infection.

Amy Schultze's (pictured) world was shattered just weeks before graduating when she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer

In July this year, Amy's experienced what she thought were symptoms of a UTI, but within weeks she was diagnosed with bladder cancer - a disease so rare in someone her age that even her GP was shocked

Slight discomfort when going to the toilet and sudden urges to urinate didn't seem alarming, but when she started to experience pain, chronic fatigue and eventually blood in her urine, she knew she had to get to the doctor.

However, when her initial urine and blood tests came back normal, it was her doctor who insisted on digging deeper.

'That's when my GP presented the possibility that it could be bladder stones,' she said.

By early July, an ultrasound and CT scan revealed the truth: a large 5cm tumour was growing inside her bladder.

Within weeks, her life shifted from school assignments and volleyball training to emergency surgery and oncology appointments.

On August 11, just days after consulting a urologist, Amy underwent her first surgery to remove the tumour.

But doctors uncovered more than they anticipated - eight or nine smaller tumours - and tests showed 10 per cent of her cancer was the rare and aggressive micropapillary variant, with the remaining 90 per cent classed as urothelial carcinoma.

That meant a second surgery was needed just two weeks later on August 26.

Hailing from Craigie in Perth's northern suburbs, Amy (far right) was a fun-loving student who played volleyball at a state level, coached kids at her local sports centre and had just completed the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award

After normal test results, further scans prompted by her GP in July revealed a large 5cm tumour in Amy's bladder

'It's quite an unusual experience. I had a catheter in for a night after the surgery, and that caused me a lot of discomfort,' she said.

However, Amy was out of hospital recovering from both surgeries after just a few days.

But now, she faces the biggest hurdle yet - a third, seven-hour major surgery in Melbourne, where specialists will remove her bladder completely and reconstruct a new one - known as a neobladder - from her small intestine.

Surgeons will also remove surrounding lymph nodes, and possibly her ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus if the cancer has spread.

'It's too risky to keep my bladder because of the aggressive variant,' Amy explained.

However, her first surgery uncovered more than they anticipated - eight or nine smaller tumours that weren't originally detected - and tests showed 10% of her cancer was the rare and aggressive micropapillary variant. Pictured: Amy with her mum Sally

Now, she faces the biggest hurdle yet - a third, seven-hour major surgery in Melbourne, where specialists will remove her bladder completely and reconstruct a new one - known as a neobladder - from her small intestine

'There's also a chance they may need to remove my reproductive organs. Because I'm so young, my case is really rare, so doctors don't know exactly what to expect.'

Recovery from the Melbourne surgery will take at least three weeks in hospital and up to six months back home in Perth.

Amy may also need chemotherapy, depending on what surgeons find when they go in.

The operation means she'll miss her Leavers Week celebrations - WA's version of schoolies - but she's already looking ahead to brighter days.

Her dream is to spend her gap year travelling, including working at Camp America, before starting university to study international relations and potentially law in 2027.

Recovery from the Melbourne surgery will take at least three weeks in hospital and up to six months back home in Perth. Pictured (second left) Amy with her state volleyball team

After her health ordeal is over, Amy's (middle) dream is to spend her gap year travelling, including working at Camp America, before starting university to study international relations and potentially law in 2027. Pictured: with her close school friends

She's also determined to use her TikTok account to document her journey, spread awareness about bladder cancer in young people, and encourage others to advocate for their health.

'If you think something's not right, definitely get tested and speak up for yourself,' she said.

'I was just lucky enough to have an amazing GP who pushed for more testing when my results came back normal.'

Amy's diagnosis has forced her to stop working casual jobs at her local sports centre and restaurant, leaving her without an income.

To support her medical journey, her family and friends have rallied around to help cover the enormous costs of interstate travel for both Amy and her mum, as well as accommodation during their Melbourne stay, fertility consultations, specialist therapies and ongoing care.

Despite the life-altering ordeal ahead, Amy remains hopeful that she'll live a normal life again soon.

'It's been hard dealing with this mentally. The whole thing has definitely changed my perspective on everything now,' she admitted.

'But I've had so much support from my head of year at school, my friends and my care team.

'I know I'll get through it.'