Dwyane Wade’s revelation on his latest podcast episode came as an utter shock. For those unaware, the Miami Heat icon, on The Why With Dwyane Wade, stated he was diagnosed with a cancerous kidney tumor back in 2023. “Weakest point of my life,” he emphasizes. It took quite the strength for the Flash to get back on his feet and find the right moment to open up. Gabrielle Union, a crucial force through the journey couldn’t be more proud.

The Bring It On actress shared an IG post featuring the clip from the podcast. And through her caption, Gab tried to solve her husband’s concerns about being perceived as “weak”.

“Scary scary time for D and our family. I’m glad he was able to tell his story in HIS time in his own way. And NEVER weak. Ever,” Gab wrote on Instagram.

Dwyane Wade had admitted on the podcast that he hadn’t been keeping up with regular doctor visits. But when his father faced surgery, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off in his own body. Trusting that gut feeling, he went in for a full-body scan—and that decision may have saved his life.

What he didn’t expect was the scan revealing a tumor on one of his kidneys. “I didn’t go in for my kidneys,” he said. “But because I did the full-body scan, they saw something.” Since the tumor couldn’t be biopsied, the former Heat star had no choice but to undergo surgery to find out if it was cancerous.

On December 18, 2023, Dwyane Wade had 40 percent of his kidney removed. The tumor turned out to be cancerous, making the surgery not just necessary—but life-saving. Looking back, D-Wade confessed, “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.” Gab is clarifying that for him.

There have been previous instances of Dwyane Wade expressing health concerns

In the same year he faced a life-changing kidney cancer diagnosis, his reflections on health took on a whole new meaning. In a 2023 interview with People, Wade opened up about how retirement shifted his focus toward not just physical fitness, but mental wellness too.

“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 someone who dazzled us with his speed and agility, it was eye-opening to hear him talk about aging with such honesty.

Wade also got real about something many of us can relate to—mental fog. You know that feeling when your mind goes blank, and you’re scrambling for the right word or trying to remember what you were just thinking? Yeah, Wade felt that too.

For someone who thrives on energy, this hit hard. “I’m youthful. It’s all about my energy. When I walk into a room, my energy needs to feel great,” he had said.

Determined to take control of his health, Wade teamed up with Thorne, a science-driven wellness company, through their Build to Last campaign. This partnership taught him how to manage mental fog and other health challenges.

It was most likely this proactive approach towards his health that helped Dwyane Wade get rid of the cancerous tumor in his Kidney.