MILWAUKEE — Driving from Lake County, Illinois to Milwaukee is a trip Verena Owen doesn’t mind taking.

“Two dozen,” said Owen, referencing the amount of times she’s had to drive to the Badger State. “Maybe more. I’ve lost count.”

After she was diagnosed with sarcoma, her family doctor recommended she visit with Dr. Nick Webber.

Webber is an orthopedic oncologist at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, which is one of the only two sarcoma centers in Wisconsin.

“Dr. Webber and his team don’t treat the disease; they treat their patients. That makes a huge difference,” said Owen. 

She said she learned that while sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that develops in the bones or soft tissues, it’s treatable. 

Owen said Webber was able to help her navigate the diagnoses and a treatment plan. She went through several rounds of radiation and a surgery to remove the cancer. 

“Nobody fights sarcoma alone and knowing and understanding you have these people right by your side, even in your worst days when you can think of nothing that can make you feel better, it was amazing and necessary,” said Owen.

Webber said he encourages anyone going through a cancer journey to find the right care team. 

“I tell everyone you’re going to give me a year of your life to take care of this or maybe more,” said Webber. “Maybe five years later we’re still going to know each other, doing scans and 10 years later, you’re going to think about this. It’s important to have a really dedicated team who’s not going anywhere. This is not just something you do, and it’s done and it’s over.”

While Owen had a setback when her surgery wound re-opened, she said she felt as if she had support behind her every step of the way.

“I didn’t expect people to catch me while I was falling,” said Owen. “I did not and they did. Not only did they catch me; there were parts of this journey where they carried me.”

She said even if it means traveling a distance, she encourages people to find the right support for them.