Dwyane Wade, a renowned Hall of Fame athlete, recently revealed that he underwent surgery in December 2023 to remove a tumor from his kidney, which had later been identified as cancerous. In a recent episode of his podcast, “The Why With Dwyane Wade,” he expressed relief over having made the decision to have the surgery.
Wade shared that prior to this experience, he had not been keeping up with regular health check-ups for several years. It was only after experiencing stomach and urinary problems that he decided to consult a doctor. Through a full-body scan, doctors discovered what he referred to as a “cyst/tumor,” ultimately leading to the surgical procedure that resulted in the removal of 40% of his right kidney.
Reflecting on this life-changing moment, Wade admitted it was a significant emotional challenge for him: “I think it was the first time my family — my dad, my kids — they saw me weak,” he recounted. He described the experience as one of the toughest times in his life, saying, “The moments I was by myself, I was struggling, dog. Struggling.”
Wade, who retired from the NBA in 2019 after an impressive 16-season career—15 of which were spent with the Miami Heat—expressed that it was difficult for him to show vulnerability, especially in front of his family. “You never want your family to see you as weak. You don’t want to be perceived weak and you don’t want to be seen in your weak moments. But I had to,” he shared, emphasizing the emotional toll the situation had on him.
Throughout his distinguished career, Wade achieved remarkable success, winning three NBA championships and earning the distinction of being a 13-time All-Star. Additionally, he made a name for himself earlier in his career by leading the Marquette team to the Final Four in 2003.
