NBA star Dwyane Wade has opened up on an aspect of his health in a recent podcast, indicating that a large portion of his kidney was removed due to a cancerous tumor.
Interacting with Bobby Metelus, host of The Why, both men reflected on the importance of mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.
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They emphasized the need for men to check on each other and create safe spaces for vulnerability. It was during this discussion that Wade touched on the health issue, which came a few years after he retired from the NBA in 2019.
According to Wade, the diagnosis led him to have 40 percent of his right kidney removed, almost a year and a half ago. He added that he had not visited the doctor for a health check in a long time.
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He added that his father’s journey with prostate cancer prompted him to eventually see a doctor, where he shared the challenges of having stomach issues, cramps, and urinating slowly.
Following a full-body scan, he discovered that there was a “cyst/tumor” on one of his kidneys, which led to the doctor telling him he needed kidney surgery.
Wade added that other doctors agreed with the diagnosis, so he decided to undergo surgery on December 18, 2023. That was when doctors established that the tumor was cancerous after they had removed nearly half of his left kidney.
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“My journey to have that surgery, I think it was the first time that my family, my dad, my kids, they saw me weak,” Wade said. “The moment I was by myself, I was struggling, dog.”
“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,” he added.
As a result of the frightening experience, the former NBA star said he came to understand the true meaning of family as his loved ones saw him at the “weakest point” of his life.
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“As a man, you never want your family to see you weak…Don’t want to be perceived weak, don’t want to be seen in your weakest moments but I had to,” he noted.
The episode aired on Thursday, January 30, and was the first time it was hosted with a live audience of about 30 men, discussing health, wellness, and brotherhood.
