“They saw me weak” – NBA legend Dwyane Wade reveals cancer diagnosis, kidney surgery

NBA legend Dwayne Wade opened up on his cancer diagnosis and revealed that he had to undergo a surgery which led to the removal of 40% of his kidney. Regarded as one of the best names in the league, Wade holds several records with Miami Heats. 

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest shooting guards in the history of the league. He won three championships, was a 13-time NBA All-Star and an eight-time member of the All-NBA Team, before announcing retirement after 2018-19 season.

During the latest episode of his podcast, “The Why With Dwayne Wade,” the 43-year-old revealed publicly for the first time that he was dealing with some stomach and urinary issues. He also revealed that he had been undergoing medical checkups since his retirement in 2019, but it was during his father’s surgery that he decided to undergo a full-body scan. 

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Wade said, “I didn’t go in for my kidneys. But because I did the full-body scan, they saw something.” He revealed that the tumor he had couldn’t be biopsied and the surgery was the only way to confirm it was cancerous. Later, in December 2023, Wade underwent a surgery that led to 40% removal of his kidney. 

#DwyaneWade says he had to have nearly half of one his kidneys removed from his body in order to rid himself of a cancerous mass.

Full story HERE ➡: https://t.co/mgNAHUSwf9

📽️: The Why with Dwayne Wade pic.twitter.com/JmmbWsjJX2

— TMZ (@TMZ) January 30, 2025

“The weakest I’ve ever felt in my life,”- Dwyane Wade reflects on surgery

The Hall of Famer reflected up on the surgery and revealed that it was a low point in his life. He said, “I think it was the first time my family, my dad, my kids, they saw me weak. That moment was probably the weakest point I’ve ever felt in my life. … I was struggling, dog. Struggling.”

“And one thing you never want to do as a man is 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 added.

Talking about how his family supported him, Wade said, “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, in my friends, in my group.”