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.