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Blue vs. Blue Prostate Cancer Awareness Organization is dedicated to bringing prostate cancer awareness to law enforcement agencies across the United States and to the communities they serve. Blue vs Blue believes by spreading prostate cancer awareness to law enforcement officers, officers’ lives and the lives of their family and community members will be saved.
Blue vs Blue is a 501c3 organization
Blue vs. Blue Prostate Cancer Awareness Organization desires to collaborate with law enforcement agencies across the country to assist in spreading awareness of prostate cancer to the officers and the communities they serve. Early detection is the key.
To spread awareness to the men and women wearing the badge of the importance of the early detection of prostate cancer for themselves and/or the men in their families.
For law enforcement agencies to expand this message to rural and traditionally marginalized communities by creating awareness, free educational programs, and community outreach.
Men…If you have been dealing with the effects from prostate cancer, please join our zoom support group meeting every 4th Wednesday of the month at 9:00 P.M.
Meeting ID: 931 871 5668 Passcode: Victory
At the age of 38, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. As you can imagine, I was in disbelief when the doctor informed me that I had cancer. Before my cancer diagnosis, all I ever heard from several different doctors was, “You are too young for prostate cancer.” They kept repeating, “Your prostate gland is inflamed, and you have Chronic Prosthetics.” They were eager to say, “Take this pill.” For years I was experiencing a burning sensation when I would urinate and pain in the area of my upper thigh. After several doctor appointments, a rising PSA, and several prostate gland checks, I was told again, “You are too young for prostate cancer.” Once my PSA was at 4.12, my doctor scheduled me for a biopsy. Eight out of the ten tissue samples from my prostate biopsy came back positive. Eighty percent of my prostate gland was affected with cancer, and on December 4, 2014, I had my prostate removed with robotic surgery.
After my surgery and my return to work (back on the beat), I was made aware of several other officers who had or have prostate cancer. Unfortunately, I would learn we were all around the same age; I just happened to be the youngest. As law enforcement officers, all of us were dealing with issues, as a result of prostate cancer and/or issues from the surgery. Nobody was talking about it, and that’s when Blue Vs. Blue was born.
Around the age of 40 I started noticing I was getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. I told my doctor, but he said, “Welcome to your 40s.” I went to my yearly wellness checks so I asked them to check my PSA. It was low, but I noticed it kept going up each year. “You’re too young to have prostate cancer, we will continue to monitor it.” At age 44 it had finally passed the “magic number 4”. I had learned that this is when they will begin to explore the possibility of prostate issues. I was given pills to rule out an infection, digital exams, blood work, etc. I finally went to see a urologist. I had a biopsy. 11 of my 12 samples came back positive for cancer. A very aggressive cancer. In July of 2014, I had my prostate removed with robotic surgery. I had 40 treatments of radiation during November, December, and January 2014 / 2015. I have undergone ADT (Androgen Deprivation Therapy) from 2014 to the present.
I began getting tested for prostate cancer at the age of 45. I had put off the suggestion of my doctor to start testing for 5 years. A big part of that was the stigma and another part was misinformation. If I had cancer I didn’t want to know. 4 years later I was informed that my PSA number had gone from .0 to 2.5. In January of the next year, after my physical, I was told that my PSA had risen to 8.9. My doctor referred me to a urologist. I didn’t have any symptoms of prostate cancer. I remember the day, April 17, 2019 amonth before my 50th birthday, the call came that morning. “You tested positive for cancer in 4 of your 8 samples.” It felt like I had been hit with a bag full of bricks. Every word after was like a parent on a Charlie Brown special. So many emotions. First fear, then rage, and then a calm due to my faith. I’m thankfully 3 years in remission. It has given me a new focus and a new respect for the life I have. God kept me here for a purpose. I’m grateful for His grace and mercy over my life. I accept the responsibility to get the word out about prostate cancer.
My name is Edward L. Gurnell Jr. At the age of 58 I was diagnosed with
prostate cancer. I am a retired IMPD Detective. In 2012 while at work
sitting at my desk, I received a phone call from my urologist. He stated
that I had prostate cancer. Sitting there in disbelief a lot of things
started racing through my mind (what about my family?, am I going to
die?, what do I do now?). I already knew I had a chance of getting
prostate cancer due to my father having it. He passed away in 1992. I
also knew that I had an enlarged prostate due to my yearly exams. In
2012 during my yearly exam my PSA increased 2 tenths of a point at
which time my urologist suggested I have a biopsy. The results from the
biopsy came back positive for cancer. After consultation with my
urologist and my wife I decided to have my prostate removed. On
August 21, 2012, my prostate gland was removed with the Da Vinci
Robotic procedure. Every check up following my procedure showed my
PSA as zero undetectable. Today, I thank GOD to have given me the
wisdom to get the procedure done and that I am now cancer free.
