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Q:
HBODocs"That’s all the time Dee Dee has for today’s Q&A. A big “thank you” to Dee Dee for joining us. Do you have anything else you’d like to add before we conclude?"
A:
Dee Dee Ricks"I wasn't proud of the I was when I was diagnosed. If there is anything I want to share with everyone, it's never to late to change. In the ammortal words of Ghandi, be the change you want to see."
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Q:
April Capo-Lenoir"Is breast cancer really ever cured, what are your thoughts, can we be cured? you made the comment "its the cancer or chemo that will get you" that was disturbing to me. Do you beleive that? "
A:
Dee Dee Ricks"Chemo definitely shortens your life. That being said, if you are diagnosed stage one, you have 100% chance of survival. If you are diagnosed stage four, you have 0% chance of surviving."
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A:
Dee Dee Ricks
"I've never been better, physically or emotionally. I juice, I do pilates, I worship and appreciate every second I'm alive."
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Q:
Vicci Carmichael Doyle"Have you gotten any true and positive interest from Senators or Congress members regarding helping the poor with cancer in finding treatment? If so, can you tell us who is most vocal on helping this situation improve for the poor and health care? "
A:
Dee Dee Ricks"Congressman Steve Israel, Co Chair of the House Cancer Caucas. I encourage everyone to email him and tell him to move Patient Navigation through to the Affordable Care Act."
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Q:
L.T. Dinwiddie"I feel so blessed to have gotten an opportunity to get to hear you and Cynthia's story. As a "dumb male" I had had no idea. Were you nervous AT ALL at the outcome of having the whole world know your story on such an intimate level. You seem fearless. "
A:
Dee Dee Ricks"Yes, I was scared to death. But as a dumb male, I hope you were able to now understand what a woman goes through and experiences when diagnosed. For the record, I love my dumb males....."
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A:
Dee Dee Ricks
"My boys were 2 and 5 at the time of diagnosis. I was scared I was going to die. I wanted to film our moments together so that they would always remember me."
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Q:
jenbiasi"In your experience with the HP Freeman Patient Navigation Institute, how have you seen Patient Navigation affect the lives of those with Cancer?"
A:
Dee Dee Ricks"In Arkansas, I donated $300K to a mammovan. We park it in the walmart lots. We have screened 3000 women. We have caught and treated 20 women stage two and higher. It works only because we have a navigator on the mammovan."
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Q:
ShoshannaS"Are there a lot of people who volunteer to be patient navigators? What is the process like?"
A:
Dee Dee Ricks"We need an army of navigators. Patient Navigation has to become a household word. The process is simple. We train individuals from the community who understand the needs of the community we are serving. Cultural, Language and socioeconomic barriers are what we train them to overcome. It's a low tech solution to timely access to treatment."
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Q:
Terry Rockwell-Brehm"When you didn't know that you had cancer, did you think about the poor and uninsured? It is my hope that your story is brought to your colleagues, so that those with the money and power can motivate washington to push for universal healthcare."
A:
Dee Dee Ricks"No, I did not. That's why I say cancer, next to my children, is the best thing that happened to me. I have taken my message to congress, the senate, clearly via HBO, the world. I am also planning over the next two years to screen my film to organizations that service the underinsured and uninsured to encourage them to take a moment and be selfish, worry about their health. "
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A:
Dee Dee Ricks
"Yes. HBO on demand or HBO Go. Also we are rescreening several times which I am posting on my facebook. "
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Q:
Nancy De Jesus Torres"You are an inspiration - How was it for you to change your attitude towards a more positive attitude - did it take a while?"
A:
Dee Dee Ricks"Not really. I've always been a half full girl.....if you don't learn from the bad times, you can't enjoy the good times. I do want to say, I've never been happier."
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A:
Dee Dee Ricks
"The boys have been my rock. They have proudly attended every screening, spread the words to their friends and consoled their Mommy when she has been so overwhelmed for the requests for help. I am the luckiest woman alive to be their mother."
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A:
Dee Dee Ricks
"Yes. Aunt Evie and I speak often. I am helping them navigate another family member through treatment."
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Q:
joshkahn"Do you think that the public discourse needs to be refocused? Breast cancer awareness seems to be high, but what about public awareness of how many women can't get the care they need?"
A:
Dee Dee Ricks"Thank you for your question. We have the cure. The issue for me, is most people don't know they have access to treatment. THIS IS A MORAL ISSUE. My job now is to make sure everyone has access to their right to live."
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Q:
L.T. Dinwiddie
"What can I do. What can we all do to help? Where do I go if I want to be of service? "
A:
Dee Dee Ricks"Please visit the site, theeducationofdeedeericks.com. Patient Navigation is the answer. We screened the film to Congress. They were so blown away, they are creating a task force for Patient Navigation to incorporate within the Affordable Care Act."
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Q:
Jesse Weinraub"Hi Dee Dee- In your experience, what are the most effective means of prevention?"
A:
Dee Dee Ricks"I'm not a medical expert, I can say though that early detection helps....if you have family history, stay on top of screening, despite recommended ages for mammograms, etc."
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Q:
Jane Potenzo"Amazingly brave film! What can we do to support friends and collegues who are battling this disease?"
A:
Dee Dee Ricks"Find them a patient navigator. If they can't find one, call us at the Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation Institute and we will assign you one."
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Q:
joshkahn
"It's great that you share your story and inform people about a huge problem in out healthcare system. Now, what should we do to help?"
A:
Dee Dee Ricks"Research is important, advocacy is important, but the only thing that I can get behind, is patient navigation. To simplify Patient Navigation, it is simply taking someone's hand who has a suspicous finding and guiding them through the complexities of our healthcare system UNTIL they are cured."
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Q:
jenbiasi
"Hi Dee Dee! So, what's been the immediate response following the premiere on HBO last night?"
A:
Dee Dee Ricks"There are no words to describe the effect that the documentary made on so many lives. I have received over 2000 emails.....Some asking for help, others just referring to me as an angel. This is the happiest moment of my life next to the births of my boys. "
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Q:
HBODocs
"We’d like to thank Dee Dee Ricks for taking time out of her busy schedule to join us today. After the premiere of last night’s inspiring documentary film, any thoughts you’d like to share off the bat? Where are you this afternoon?"
A:
Dee Dee Ricks"I'm in my office, working. I've been answering emails all morning re: requests for help. I am so happy that our message got out and I am thrilled to be in a position to help those most in need."
Archived Chat: Dee Dee Ricks
From October 28, 2011 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT
20
questions answered
