From kids to celebs, many around the globe have their own set of fears. For a few it is height, for some, it is the water, but doctors? Yes, pretty much on the list. Our Dwyane Wade is no different. Initially, like many athletes post-retirement, Dwyane Wade avoided regular doctor visits. But things changed after his cancer diagnosis and surgery. It has been more than half a decade since Wade retired from the NBA. But cancer? It came to notice only when he thought he had no time to relax, away from the demanding training of professional basketball. Came along a healthy routine, all to cure the cancer, which was luckily flagged in the very initial stage. He is healthier now than ever. He even has a partnership with a wellness brand now! But was it just cancer? Wade dropped his one fear.
Earlier this year, Wade revealed the most shocking detail to the public. He was diagnosed with cancer back in 2023. He felt slight discomfort with stomach pain and weak urine flow. Since his family had a history with cancer, with his father diagnosed with prostate cancer and his grandfather having had cancer as well, the 3x NBA champ didn’t want to risk it. He went for a routine checkup. During that process, his doctors discovered a questionable mass on his kidney and suggested surgery, which was supposed to remove 40 percent of his kidney.
His family was with him throughout this time as he braved the battle. Wade is now more careful about his daily routine as well as his personal time. Speaking of the wellness center during the Good Word with Goodwill podcast, Wade said, “I’ve been going to the doctors more than ever, man. I’m always checking on myself, whether it’s my knees, my shoulders, whether it’s my kidneys, my livers, whether it’s my primary care doctor going in. I mean, I’m really like, I want to live life. I want to be healthy.”
While he has always taken care of his body, he is working to be focused on whether he is healthy from the inside. “We don’t spend no time on the inner. I’ve been focusing on what’s inside this body, what’s really going to make this engine keep going, what’s really going to make my mind continue to be. Open and creative as possible. And so this is the rest of my life,” Wade added.
Both Wade and Zaire have a deal with Thorne, and through this, the two aim to get the best health guidance and nutritional support they need for a healthier future. He is focused on wellness practices, mental health, and self-care rituals.
Wade had kept his diagnosis a secret from the world as well as some of his friends, too. As his wife Gabrielle Union opened up about the time, she revealed another heartbreaking detail.
Why did Gabrielle Union feel lonely during Dwyane Wade’s cancer diagnosis?
Regardless of what people know, the word ‘cancer’ hits hard. Union felt the same. We have listened to Wade’s part. Now, his wife is sharing her version of that tough time, and it was just as hard for her as it was for Wade. In her interview for Marie Claire’s new “Motherhood”, Union opened up about how she felt isolated because of Wade’s silence throughout that time. It was the most frightening time for her.
Explaining Wade’s behavior during that time, she shared, “It’s a very selfish response that I had, and it caused all kinds of problems… It just starts sowing the seeds of distrust.” She recalled Wade choosing his father instead of her to accompany him in the pre-op room. Furthermore, she explained how she felt detached even after the surgery was done. “It just felt like he was trying to leave us—not in a marital sense, but a life and death sense. He wanted his best friend, not me. He didn’t want to be weak,” Union explained.
From Wade’s side, he had his own reasons. In an interview on Making Space with Hoda Kotb, Wade admitted feeling vulnerable and weak. During that time, he wanted the kind of support that could steady him. He didn’t want his family to see him weak. His friend Udonis Haslem is equally upset over the former NBA player for hiding how serious the situation is.
A picture of an emotional Dwyane Wade
Wade has not only opened up about his emotions, but he has also apologized to his close ones for keeping it to himself. Sharing only empowers oneself and others. Thanks to the Miami Heat legend being swift and wise in seeking a doctor’s help at the slightest discomfort, he has recovered and is in good shape now. And his being candid about his experience will raise more awareness and help others.
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