The Long Way Around: Living With Osteosarcoma at Age 12

At twelve years old, Ariana was living for sports — two softball teams, church basketball, and constant motion. Then her knees started hurting. What seemed like a sports injury turned into an osteosarcoma diagnosis that would change everything: her body, her childhood, and her understanding of what it means to advocate for yourself.

In this powerful episode of Life on Pause, Ariana shares what no one tells you about being diagnosed with cancer as a preteen. From losing her leg to amputation, to learning to walk again with a prosthetic, to navigating nine chest tubes and countless chemotherapy regimens — her story reveals the hidden costs of childhood cancer that go far beyond treatment.

Ariana speaks candidly about the things that disappeared: school days, sports, the simple freedom of going to the mall. She describes what she calls "taking the long way around" — renting out entire movie theaters, waiting four months for a prosthetic leg, canceling Make-A-Wish trips twice. But through it all, she discovered something powerful: her own voice.

Now living with ongoing tumors and daily pain, Ariana shares hard-won wisdom about speaking up for yourself in the medical system, the importance of support systems, and why she tells herself "I'm not sick" to keep going. Her story isn't about beating cancer — it's about living with it, honestly and bravely, one day at a time.

Thank you, Ariana, for sharing your story and your strength.

Topics Covered:

• Being diagnosed with osteosarcoma at age 12
• The immediate impact on school, sports, and childhood
• Amputation and learning to walk with a prosthetic leg
• Navigating multiple surgeries and chemotherapy regimens
• Finding your voice and advocating for yourself as a young patient
• Living with metastatic disease and chronic pain
• The unpredictability of cancer treatment and planning for the future
• Coping strategies and maintaining hope
• What "taking the long way around" really means

About Life on Pause: Life on Pause is a podcast for and by young adults with cancer. Produced by Penn State Health's AYA Oncology Program, each episode is rooted in honest storytelling and community connection. Our content is reviewed by medical and psychosocial experts to ensure accuracy and care.

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Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of surgery, amputation, cancer treatment, and chronic pain.