Dwyane Wade revealed on his podcast that he had a cancerous tumor removed from his right kidney just over a year ago. The former NBA star shared that he underwent surgery on December 18, 2023, which resulted in the removal of 40% of his kidney.
In a heartfelt conversation on The Why with Dwyane Wade, the 43-year-old reflected on the emotional impact of the experience. “My own journey to have that surgery, I think it was the first time that my family, my dad, my kids, they saw me weak,” he shared. “That moment was probably the weakest point I’ve ever felt in my life.”
Wade explained that he had been delaying a routine physical, but growing health concerns—including urinary issues—eventually led him to seek medical attention. After tests, doctors discovered a tumor on his kidney that could not be biopsied, leading to the decision to remove it.
“I had a personal decision to make, and what it was, was, ‘If this is cancerous, if this tumor, this cyst is cancerous on your kidney, you’re 41 years old, you probably need surgery because it’s something that needs to be removed so it doesn’t spread,’” Wade said.
After the surgery, the tumor was biopsied and confirmed to be cancerous. Despite the difficult diagnosis, Wade found strength in his family’s unwavering support during his recovery. “What I saw in the midst of me going through my illness, I saw my family that may not always talk, may not always agree, I saw everybody show up for me and be there for me. And in that process, in my weakness, I found strength in my family.”
Wade, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023, has moved on to various ventures in entertainment, broadcasting, and podcasting after retiring from the NBA. He’s also a partial owner of the Utah Jazz.