Rhona Wise/Imagn
One of the biggest stories in the NBA this year was the Miami Heat presenting franchise legend Dwyane Wade with a statue outside of the Kaseya Center. Unfortunately, the statue looked nothing like Wade, but it was still a remarkable moment and one that the 13-time All-Star and Basketball Hall of Fame member was clearly moved by.
What we didn’t know at the time, however, was that Wade had a serious health scare that could’ve meant he never got to see the statue in his honor.
Dwyane Wade Reveals Cancer Diagnosis Following Removal Of Growth On Kidney
Wade revealed on his “The Why with Dwyane Wade” podcast that he dealt with stomach and urinary issues that led him to see a doctor following his career after “a few years off from taking physicals.” The doctor revealed that Wade had a cyst/tumor on his right kidney that needed to be surgically removed and biopsied. The biopsy revealed that the tumor was cancerous and Wade ultimately had 40 percent of his kidney removed.
“Thank God that I did do the surgery,” Wade 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 then thanked his family for providing him with strength at a time of weakness. The revelation came as part of larger discussion about men’s health.
Wade, 43, said that he is currently cancer free and noted the incident helped he his family grow closer.
“What I saw in the midst of that and me going through my illness, I saw my family, who may not always talk, may not always agree. I saw everybody show up for me and be there for me,” he said. “And in that process of my weakness, I found strength in my family.”