Alicia Ortstad's Story of Resilience, Advocacy, and Finding Strength in the Face of Adversity

From Persistent Knee Pain to Amputation and Recovery

Alicia Ortstad, a 19-year-old student from Uppsala, Sweden, initially dismissed her persistent knee pain as a minor ache. However, by late August 2023, her leg had swollen dramatically, making it impossible to bear weight.

Despite her pleas, doctors initially brushed off her concerns, prescribing only rest and paracetamol. As the pain worsened, she experienced frequent colds, blue veins on her knee, extreme fatigue, and trouble concentrating. Her pleas for an MRI scan were ignored, and she was instead given cortisone shots to manage the pain.

osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer. Doctors informed her that amputation was the only way to prevent the cancer from spreading.

With the support of her boyfriend, Simon Pettersson, who had also undergone a leg amputation due to osteosarcoma, Alicia underwent the life-altering surgery in January 2024.

Reflecting on her experience, Alicia acknowledges ignoring early warning signs, such as pain while resting, a common symptom of osteosarcoma. She urges others to seek professional help as soon as they experience symptoms and encourages doctors to be more informed about this rare disease.

Following her surgery, Alicia continued her studies from hospital and home, graduating in June 2024. This challenging experience has shaped who she is today.

Alicia has spent the past year recovering and getting used to her new prosthetic leg. She now shares her journey on TikTok, gaining over 7.5 million likes for her videos. Through her platform, she raises awareness about osteosarcoma and encourages others facing similar challenges.