Dwyane Wade made a rookie mistake while dealing with his illness: web browsing. It’s no secret that if you’re looking for a diagnosis online, you will face the worst possibilities. And D-Wade was no exception. It was on one of the previous episodes of his podcast, The Why With Dwyane Wade, that the Miami Heat icon opened up on a personal health update. Wade stated that back in 2023, he decided to see a doctor after he started having stomach issues. A diagnosis would reveal a possible tumor or cyst on his kidney and his mind ran wild.

On the more recent episode of his podcast, Wade finally shared what was going through his mind back then. “When the doctor said I had a cyst on my kidney, immediately I was like, ‘Oh, it’s cancerous’… For about a week straight… I was living like it was my last week,” he revealed.

The Flash further explained how such circumstances push a person to the edge. “You start Googling things, you go to ChatGPT and you’re like, ‘Oh, it’s over. Oh, man, it’s over,'” the Miami Heat icon said.

Luckily for him—and for his fans—his worst fear didn’t translate to reality. But it was close. On December 18, 2023, Wade had surgery to remove 40 percent of his kidney. The final diagnosis? The tumor was cancerous. That surgery didn’t just remove a mass—it saved his life.

Looking back, Wade confessed something that many men, especially fathers and role models, might relate to. “I think it was the first time my family, my dad, my kids, they saw me weak… One thing you never want to do as a man? You never want your family to see you weak.”

What’s even more surprising? Dwyane Wade never intended to share any of this with the fans. He was ready to keep it private, to move on like nothing happened. But his close friend, Bobby Metelus, had other ideas.

“I don’t think y’all understand how hard it was to get him to just agree to do it… You [Wade] were like, ‘It happened. This is my life… I’m not trying to be a showcase to share it,'” Metelus shared on the recent episode of D-Wade’s podcast.

Eventually, Wade realized that opening up about his experience wasn’t just about him—it was about others who might be going through something similar. Fans often see athletes as invincible, like superheroes who never break. But Wade’s story is a reminder that even the strongest among us have moments of vulnerability.

Dwyane Wade has been emphasizing not just his physical but also mental well-being

Imagine being at the top of your game for years, pushing your body to the limit, only to realize that true health goes far beyond physical strength. That’s exactly what happened to The Flash. In the same year he faced a life-changing cancerous tumor diagnosis, his entire outlook on health shifted. Suddenly, fitness wasn’t just about keeping his body in peak condition—it was about his mind, too.

In a 2023 interview with People, Wade opened up about how retirement changed his perspective. “At this stage, and especially on the topic of health, it’s not something I could take lightly. I’m 41, looking at 50, and I’m thinking about how I want to be then,” he shared. For a player who once left fans in awe with his speed and agility, hearing him speak so candidly about aging was refreshing.

And then there was the mental fog. You know that feeling—you walk into a room and forget why, or you struggle to find the right words in a conversation. Wade felt it too. For someone whose presence has always been fueled by energy, this was tough. “I’m youthful. It’s all about my energy. When I walk into a room, my energy needs to feel great,” he admitted.

Determined to reclaim control over his well-being, Wade partnered with Thorne, a science-driven wellness company, through their Build to Last campaign. This collaboration helped him tackle mental fog and other health concerns, proving that taking proactive steps matters.

Looking at his journey, it’s clear that prioritizing both physical and mental health played a crucial role in helping Dwyane Wade overcome this challenge.