Alicia Ortstad shares her story of battling bone cancer after ignoring symptoms for months
City: Alicia Ortstad’s story is a real eye-opener. She thought she was just tired, but it turned out to be something way more serious. After a year of ignoring her symptoms, she finally went to the doctor and found out she had osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer.
She shared her journey on TikTok, saying, “My body was telling me something was wrong, and I just brushed it off.” To help others, she listed her symptoms, hoping to encourage anyone feeling off to get checked out.
Alicia felt exhausted all the time, no matter how much sleep she got. She also got sick more often and had a high fever and strep throat repeatedly. School was tough too; she struggled to focus and often needed naps.
She even mentioned that drinking alcohol became a nightmare, leading to terrible hangovers from just a little bit. Along with a hospital photo, she talked about the intense pain she felt, which was worse when she was resting. It started small but grew over time, and no painkillers seemed to help.
She discovered a hard lump in her knee that kept getting bigger. Alicia’s advice to her followers was clear: “Listen to your body. If something feels off, don’t hesitate to push for answers.”
One follower asked how she got diagnosed, and Alicia explained that it took a long time to get an MRI. By the time they found it, it was almost too late. Others chimed in with support, thanking her for sharing her story and encouraging her to stay strong.
Bone cancer can show up in various ways, like persistent pain, swelling, or lumps. If you or someone you know is dealing with ongoing bone pain, it’s crucial to see a doctor, even if it seems unlikely to be cancer.
