Dwyane Wade Says He Had 2023 Kidney Surgery to Remove Cancerous Tumor

Miami Heat icon and Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade says he underwent surgery in December 2023 to remove a cancerous tumor in his kidney.

Wade shared the story of his diagnosis while speaking with co-host Bob Metelus on Thursday's episode of The Why with Dwyane Wade (15:30 mark of the video below.)

The first signs something was wrong were cramps and weak urination, Wade told Metelus.

Wade's doctor then discovered a growth on his right kidney during a full-body scan. The doctor said the tumor couldn't be biopsied until it was surgically removed, Wade said.

The Miami Heat legend added that he checked with multiple doctors while deciding whether to undergo the procedure.

"I had a personal decision to make. And what it was, was, if this is cancerous, if this tumor, this cyst, is cancerous on your kidney, you're 41 years old. You probably need surgery, so it's something that needs to be removed, so it doesn't spread," Wade said. "I made the decision to have surgery. I had surgery on December 18, 2023."

Wade continued: "To find out, at 41 years old, pretty healthy guy, that I did have cancer— thank God that I did do the surgery, because the tumor was cancerous."

The procedure involved the removal of 40 percent of his right kidney, Wade said.

Wade, who had previously said he considered himself in better shape following his NBA retirement than he had been during his time in the league, told Metelus it was difficult to feel "weak" while undergoing the procedure and recovery.

"I think it was the first time my family, my dad, my kids, they saw me weak," Wade said. "That moment was probably the weakest point I've ever felt in my life. The moments I was by myself, I was struggling."

Wade continued: "Fortunately for me, my family got in, they jumped in. And what I saw, in the midst of that, and me going through my illness ... I saw everybody show up, for me, and be there for me. In that process, in my weakness, I found strength in my family, in my friends, in my group."

Wade was named MVP of the 2006 NBA Finals after leading the Miami Heat to the franchise's first NBA championship. He retired from the NBA in 2019 after 16 years in the league, including 14 full seasons with the Heat. Since the end of his playing career he has remained involved in basketball as a part owner of the Utah Jazz and Chicago Sky.