Dwyane Wade, a three-time NBA champion, discussed his kidney cancer diagnosis and the importance of relying on the strength of his loved ones in an interview with Jenna Bush Hager from the “Today” show.
A few years back, Wade’s health journey commenced with his father’s diagnosis of prostate cancer. Er erfuhr später, dass auch sein Großvater an Prostatakrebs erkrankt war.
After considering the possible genetic connection, the Miami Heat legend opted to consult his doctor regarding some symptoms he had been experiencing, such as stomach cramps and difficulty urinating.
Wade stated that after consulting with his doctor, he underwent imaging, which revealed a mass on his kidney. They could not determine if it was cancerous without him undergoing surgery, however. At that point, he became afraid.
“At this moment, I’m frightened. At that point, I realized it was genuinely serious. You start thinking about everything. You start thinking about not coming out of it,” Wade said on “Today.”
„In meiner Familie hat niemand mich je wirklich schwach erlebt. Throughout, I have been the one who is strong and self-assured, the world champion who has held trophies aloft. That is the picture. However, this was a moment when I realized that I would be facing a lot of uncertainty.
The Hall of Famer, at the age of 41, received an unimaginable call: he had kidney cancer. Fortunately for Wade, his proactive approach led to the cancer being detected at Stage 1 – the earliest stage, when it has not yet spread to other parts of the body.
The Mayo Clinic states that symptoms of kidney cancer over time may include: “Blood in the urine, which may appear pink, red, or cola-colored; decreased appetite; persistent pain in the side or back; fatigue; weight loss without explanation.
