Gabrielle Union Shares That Dwyane Wade Is ‘Cancer-Free’ After Private Battle and Surgery
Gabrielle Union has revealed the uplifting news that her husband, Dwyane Wade, is officially cancer-free following a secret health battle that included surgery to remove a tumor from his kidney.
On Thursday’s episode of The View, the 52-year-old actress opened up about their difficult journey, sharing that Wade, 43, had kept his diagnosis extremely private, only informing a small circle of family members before undergoing surgery.
“He’s had the surgery, and he’s cancer-free, but it was a challenge,” Union shared. She acknowledged that Wade, despite his fame as a global sports icon, chose to handle his diagnosis quietly. “He didn’t tell everybody,” she explained, adding that Wade even kept the news from some of their family members.
Union admitted that hearing about her husband’s diagnosis came as a complete shock. “You think of the absolute worst-case scenario,” she said, recalling how she initially feared the worst. “I’ve had so many friends who are cancer survivors, but I didn’t go there. I went to, ‘He’s gone,’ and so it took all of us a while to process.”
Union also praised Wade for his decision to keep the diagnosis private for over a year. In an interview with Access Hollywood, she said, “He was smart to delay talking about his diagnosis and the surgery for over a year to give us all a little time to make peace with it and let our very intense fears dissipate.”
She reassured fans that Wade is now in excellent health, saying, “He’s doing great. We’re proud of him that he was brave enough to not only go through everything to take care of his health, but to share it with the world and hopefully save other people.”
Wade first publicly shared his kidney cancer diagnosis in late January on his podcast, The Why With Dwyane Wade. He revealed that doctors found a tumor on his right kidney in December 2023, leading to a surgery that involved removing 40 percent of the organ. The three-time NBA champion also shared how the experience was deeply emotional for him and his family.
“I think it was the first time that my family, my dad, my kids, they saw me weak,” Wade said on his podcast. Despite initially struggling with his vulnerability, Wade found strength in the overwhelming support from his loved ones.
“As a man, you never want your family to see you weak,” he admitted. “But I had to.” Wade’s family rallied around him, and he expressed gratitude for their support during his health battle.
Wade and Union, who married in 2014, share a 6-year-old daughter, Kaavia. Wade is also the father of three children from previous relationships, including Zaire, 23, Zaya, 17, and Xavier, 11.
Now cancer-free, Wade’s journey serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of family, early detection, and prioritizing one’s health.