This edition of Salina Sees You, brought to you by Drs. Cooper & Banninger, LLC Family Vision Care (1000 E. Cloud) presents:
Oscar Campa, a 24-year old Salina native who tells his story of battling a 2-year long bone cancer diagnosis, how he overcame it and his love for encouraging others.
By: NICOLAS FIERRO
Salina Post
Oscar Campa is the 2nd oldest of 5 siblings, with his father being from Mexico and mother from Salina. Campa grew up playing sports with his older sister. In his adolescent years, his uncles influenced him to get into music.
However, this was the same time he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer.
According to Cleveland Clinic, only 7 in 10 people survive if the osteosarcoma doesn’t spread to other parts of their bodies.
Before the diagnosis, he would experience high levels of fatigue when playing baseball and soccer. Shortly after a few more games and still experiencing the fatigueness, his family scheduled an appointment for him to be evaluated.
“From that point on, it was appointment after appointment, until they found out what it actually was,” said Campa. “From that day on, it kinda changed my life.”
Roughly around middle school was when Campa went through chemotherapy and he could not continue sports anymore. During this time, his music teacher taught him how to play guitar and this was when he got back into it.
Campa conquered the battle of osteosarcoma in 2015 after being diagnosed in 2013. However, a couple of months later the disease came back again.
“It knocked me off my feet, because I had beaten it, gained all my confidence back and then I got diagnosed again, which threw me off,” he said.
This was the time when Campa was told he needed his left arm amputated. Fortunately, he overcame the disease again on December 2, 2015.
Afterwards, his mother started taking him to the gym and he fell in love with it.
Campa’s uncles then asked him if he wanted to play in their band. His uncle taught him how to play the bass and he was able to do it with one arm.
“I always kept music and the gym in my life,” he said.
SPONSORED:
This edition of Salina Sees You is brought to you by Drs. Cooper & Banninger, LLC Family Vision Care (1000 E. Cloud). Call (785) 823-6391 or visit today, to make an appointment.
Attitude of gratitude
Throughout the process of chemo and battling cancer, Campa felt times of isolation. At times, people he interacted with would tell him how much of an inspiration he is.
“When I run into somebody, they will know who I am, but I won’t necessarily know who they are,” he said. “They will tell me how much of an inspiration I am, but that won’t click in my head until I really think about it, because when I look at other kids who have cancer, I just remember being in their shoes at some point and looking how hard it was for them to go through that.”
He added that he stays grateful even after his amputation, since many people have lost their lives and loved ones due to cancer.
“There is more to be grateful for, there is someone who is wishing they could be in my shoes right now. Even though I lost my arm and hair, I am still alive,” he said.
What kept him going was reiterating quotes to himself such as, “feelings come and go, but time doesn’t,” and “someone is always outworking you and you have to get it done no matter what it is, because if you don’t then someone else will.”
“I am disabled, but I don’t like to claim I am disabled and I like to think I am just as capable of doing anything,” he said.
Love for helping others
In the past, Campa has published motivational videos to inspire others on his YouTube and Instagram pages.
“I love helping people and I can do that by being myself, which is crazy because I never thought that would be possible,” he said.
He shared some words of encouragement for those who are currently going through tough times and battling cancer.
“One thing I always try to keep in mind, is that there is always light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “Hardship creates growth. That is how everything is in life, no matter how small or big it is, you will get through it, as long as you keep your head up and stay positive. You make the most out of any situation, or you can make the least out of it."
Love, Chloe Foundation, family and friends supporting Campa
Campa stated the Love, Chloe Foundation helped him throughout his cancer journey. Back when he was diagnosed, the organization reached out to his family for support. He thanked President and Founder, Heidi Feyerherm Smith and rest of the Love, Chloe team.
“They have been very supportive and they always support alot of families,” he said.
He also thanked his family and everyone for their continuous support.
Campa recently acquired a job with the City of Salina. This will be his first full-time job in awhile.
His goals are to continue playing music, hit the gym and restart publishing his motivational content, reaching both spanish and english audiences.
December 2025 will mark the 10-year anniversary of Campa being cancer free.
Salina sees you, Oscar Campa.
If you would like to share your personal story or know anyone who may have a story that will inspire each reader, please email Salina Post News Director, Nicolas Fierro: [email protected] or [email protected] (during regular business hours)
You can also contact: (785) 656-9856 (during regular business hours)