Local Surgeon Prepares to Lead Medical Team To Dominican Republic

Dr. Edna Kapenhas’s face lights up when she talks about seeing five-year survival patients again.

For the last seven years, Dr. Kapenhas, the director of breast surgery and the medical director of the Ellen Hermanson Breast Center at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, has been taking a surgical team every year to the Dominican Republic and performing live-saving surgery through the International Breast Cancer Surgical Mission of Southampton, which she founded in 2012 as part of the international Island Impact Ministries.

Dr. Kapenhas, who practiced at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York before moving to Stony Brook Southampton in 2007, said she always wanted to be part of an overseas mission. When she learned about Florida-based Island Impact Ministries, she approached founder Kelli Nelson and learned the nonprofit did run several international missions — they travel to Haiti and the Dominican Republic — but none of their missions focused on treating breast cancer.

So she formed her own.

A fundraiser this Saturday night at Union Catina will help offset some of the costs of this year’s trip.

The first year of the mission, Dr. Kapenhas put together a much smaller team than the 26 medical professionals from all over the country who will be flying out on February 26. “It was a trial year,” she said. The team gathered equipment and medications and planned to take a small number of cases.

Arriving at the hospital in Puerta Plata, team members were aghast when confronted with the primitive conditions there, she said. “There was mold on the operating table,” Dr. Kapenhas said. “It was pretty awakening to see all of that.”

The team now goes to a hospital that focuses on cancer treatments in Santiago. As the years wore on, the number of patients needing surgery has grown — as has the team, a crew that takes some logistical prowess to convene. As news of the team’s mission has spread across the Dominican Republic by word of mouth, the group is expected every year now, Dr. Kapenhas said.

Doctors at the Oncologico Regional del Cibao will screen a lot of the patients before the surgical team arrives. Some come in with a diagnosis already, while others need care beginning with an initial exam. Patients’ medical doctors clear them for surgery.

“We’re there to make a difference,” Dr. Kapenhas said.

All pre-care, care, after care, medications and surgery is free to the patient. Post care plans for patients are established with doctors on site. Again, at no cost to the patient.

The medical professionals on the mission pay their own expenses, including airfare, lodgings, and food. Most use vacation time for the eight-day trip. Dr. Kapenhas estimated it costs each team member about $1,500, not counting meals.

They cover those costs themselves, but fundraise to pay for the equipment. “We take everything with us,” Dr. Kapenhas said.

All the equipment and medications are purchased stateside. “It’s extremely expensive,” Dr. Kapenhas said.

Some medications, like narcotics, can’t be taken out of the country, so the team has to buy them in the Dominican Republic, where it is more expensive.

During the fundraising portion of the annual process, the group estimates handling about 30 cases, and orders supplies for that number at a cost of around $20,000.

This Saturday night, the group will host a fundraiser to help underwrite the cost of the program. A “Masquerade Ball” will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. at Union Cantina on Bowden Square in Southampton Village. Tickets are $90 in advance and available at the Ellen Hermanson Breast Center or by calling 631-726-8400.

Proceeds from the evening, which boasts hors d’oeuvres, a taco bar, DJ Santiago, live performances, and a photo booth, will help fund surgeries, anesthesia, biopsies, pathology costs, medications, supplies, chemotherapy, and more. Additionally, the team is asking for donations of new or gently used wigs or prosthetic items. Drop them off at the breast center before February 6.

This year, Dr. Kapenhas is dedicating the event to the memory of a former patient, Nikki Abbott. Her face darkens when she discusses the patient whose photo she keeps on her phone. “She was a very, very special young lady,” she said.

Ms. Abbott was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at the age of 31 and died two years later.

“She fought very hard,” Dr. Kapenhas said. “Throughout the whole time, I never saw her complain. She always had a smile — she just inspired all of us. A beautiful soul.”

Surgeons are often portrayed as cold, indifferent experts lacking in sympathy for their patients and just interested in the science of disease and perfecting their skills, she said.

“That’s not true, that’s not true at all,” Dr. Kapenhas countered. “I develop a rapport with my patients. They see me forever. Eventually, I just see them once a year, but you get to know your patients.”

She said this week that she decided to specialize in breast cancer surgery when she realized, as a resident at New York Hospital of Queens in Flushing, that it’s a hopeful discipline.

“There are some very sad stories,” she acknowledged. “But a lot more happy stories.”