Dwyane Wade is shedding light on the early signs he noticed before being diagnosed with kidney cancer.
In an interview, the retired NBA star revealed that he scheduled a routine check-up at age 40 for peace of mind after his father’s prostate cancer diagnosis.
During the visit, Wade—who otherwise felt “pretty healthy”—mentioned experiencing stomach pain and changes in urination.
“I talked about just having a slow stream, like sometimes when I would go to the bathroom, my urine would come out a little slow,” he recalled.
“I had some cramps, some pain in my stomach at times that I didn’t understand,” he added. “But I didn’t think anything of it. So when I finally went in, I was like, OK, I just want to know everything.”
His doctor recommended an MRI scan to investigate his symptoms. After the scan, Wade received an unexpected call.
“She told me it was very early, but they thought they saw something on my kidneys,” Wade said. “I didn’t go in for my kidneys. I went in to check on my stomach and prostate.”
Following further scans and a consultation with a specialist, doctors confirmed the presence of a suspicious mass on his kidney and discussed potential surgery.
Wade struggled to grasp how, as a former professional athlete, he could be facing kidney cancer. The mere mention of the word “cancer,” he recalled, sent him into a panic.
“They told me, ‘We don’t know if it’s cancerous, but it’s something there, and you’re a young man. We just want to make sure you can continue living a healthy life,’” Wade shared.
As the reality set in, Wade realized the severity of the situation.
“(My doctor said) in the next five or 10 years, if this is cancer, it could spread—not just through your kidneys, but to your lungs and eventually to your brain,” he said.
Understanding the risks, Wade agreed to undergo surgery to remove the lesion in December 2023. His wife, actress Gabrielle Union, and his father were by his side at the hospital.
Before the procedure, Wade made a personal vow.
“I remember telling myself, if I make it through this, I’m going to approach life differently,” he said. “I’m going to live for the 24 hours in front of me. Of course, I’ll plan for the future, but I’ll focus on the present.”
The recovery process was painful, and Wade admitted feeling vulnerable in front of his wife and children. However, he was grateful for their support.
When his doctor later confirmed that the removed mass was Stage 1 cancer, Wade felt immense relief.
“Thank God we caught it early,” he said. “It was about 3 centimeters on my kidney, but it didn’t have the chance to grow further.”
Despite the fear that came with his diagnosis, Wade believes the experience gave him valuable perspective.
“It forced me to pause and reflect on my life—where I was, where I wanted to go, what truly mattered,” he said. “I spent a lot of time journaling, thinking about what I want the next 40 years of my life to look and feel like.”
Now healthy again, Wade is using his story to encourage others—especially men—to be proactive about their health and seek medical attention when they notice changes.
“When people hear ‘cancer,’ they often assume the worst,” he said.
“But this experience has actually helped me,” he added. “A lot of men don’t get checked unless they feel something is wrong. I want us to move past that mindset—I want us to grow from it.”
