Dwyane Wade wants to block kidney cancer’s full-court press on your health.
The retired NBA star recently opened up about his Stage 1 kidney cancer diagnosis at age 41, admitting that he initially dismissed the early warning signs his body was sending.
“I didn’t think nothing of it,” Wade told “Today,” adding he felt “pretty healthy” when he decided to schedule a checkup, seeking peace of mind after his father’s prostate cancer diagnosis.
Urine trouble
During the appointment, Wade told his physician he’d noticed a change in his urination.
“I talked about just having a slow stream,” the basketball legend said. “Sometimes when I would go to the bathroom, my urine would come out little slow.”
A core function of the kidneys is to filter the blood, expelling waste and excess fluid as urine. While issues like blood in the urine, changes in frequency or quantity and pain during urination could be caused by other conditions, they’re all potential signs of kidney cancer and should be checked out.
Persistent pain
“I had some some cramps, some pain, a little bit at times in my stomach that I did not understand,” Wade said.
His doctor ordered an MRI to investigate the area where he’d been feeling discomfort. When they found something on his kidneys, he was surprised — he’d only gone into the doctor to check on his stomach and prostate.
Persistent pain in the side, back or abdomen affects about 10% of kidney cancer patients. It’s typically described as a dull, lingering ache that worsens over time, instead of a sudden sharp pain, according to the MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Other subtle signs
While changes in urination and persistent pain are two potential signs of kidney cancer, it’s important to note that the disease often doesn’t show signs in its early stages.
When symptoms do occur, they can include a mass in the abdomen, side or back (not caused by injury), fatigue, loss of appetite, persistent fever, unexplained weight loss and anemia. However, these symptoms can also be linked to other noncancerous conditions.
Wade’s health playbook
After a second MRI showed a suspicious mass on one of Wade’s kidneys, doctors discussed the possibility of surgery to remove the lesion and prevent it from spreading.
Wade was shocked, struggling to grasp how he, a former professional athlete, could find himself in this situation. The word “cancer” alone had him “panicking,” but he agreed to move forward with the procedure, especially when he was told it could spread to his lungs and brain if he left it alone.
On the day of the surgery, in December 2023, Wade’s wife, actor Gabrielle Union, and his father accompanied him to the hospital. When his physician later called to confirm the lesion was Stage 1 kidney cancer, Wade was even more thankful for his decision to go under the knife.
“Thank God that we caught it early,” the Hall of Famer said. “This wasn’t something that was able to grow. It was about 3 centimeters on my kidney.”
Now healthy and strong, Wade told “Today” that the experience has inspired him to make lifestyle changes like living in the moment. He’s also using his story to urge others, especially men, to take charge of their health and see a doctor if they notice any changes in their bodies.
“When people hear cancer, obviously, immediately they think it’s over. But it’s really helped me,” Wade said. “I think being able to speak about it in an environment with other men that I know, a lot of us are not going to check ourselves out if we don’t feel nothing. If nothing is happening, we’re like, ‘We’re good.’ And I want us to get over that. I want us to grow from that.”
Kidney cancer ranks among the 10 most common cancers in the US. It’s about twice as common in men as in women, with risk increasing as you age.
The number of new kidney cancer cases has been on the rise, partly due to advanced imaging tests. Fortunately, death rates for kidney cancer are on the decline, according to the American Cancer Society.
When caught early, kidney cancer is often treatable and even curable. The five-year survival rate for Stage 1 kidney cancer is 93%, but that drops to just 18% for those diagnosed with advanced stages.
The ACS estimates that around 81,610 new cases of kidney cancer will be diagnosed in 2025 — 52,380 in men and 29,230 in women. The organization predicts roughly 14,390 deaths from the disease this year.
