Dwyane Wade, the retired NBA player, recently opened up about his “shocking” kidney cancer diagnosis, which came over a year after he underwent surgery in December 2023 to remove a cancerous tumor from his right kidney.
In the latest episode of his podcast, “The Why With Dwyane Wade,” he shared his experience and emotions surrounding this challenging health issue.
Wade shared the symptoms he experienced before his kidney cancer diagnosis. Apart from stomach issues and cramps, he wondered why his urine stream felt “weak.”
“Why is my pee coming out slowly, why is my stream not powerful? Why is it a bit weak?” he asked.
Wade underwent an MRI imaging test that confirmed the presence of a cancerous tumor in his kidney.
The former Miami Heat star admitted that the cancer diagnosis was the “lowest point” of his life.
“I think it was the first time my family, my dad, my kids, they saw me vulnerable,” Wade said. “I saw my family that may not always communicate or agree, but they all showed up for me and supported me.” The father of five expressed his gratitude for the support he received during this challenging time.
Wade, a 43-year-old married to actress Gabrielle Union, who is 52, shares a daughter named Kaavia, who is 6 years old.
Wade continued, “As a man, you never want your family to see you vulnerable. You don’t want to be perceived as weak, or to be seen in your weakest moments. But I had to.”
The average 5-year survival rate for kidney cancer is 77.6%. However, the prognosis for kidney cancer is excellent if it is detected early.
