Gabrielle Union has shared the uplifting news that her husband, Dwyane Wade, is officially cancer-free following a private health battle that saw him undergo surgery to remove a tumor from his kidney.
Speaking on The View Thursday, the 52-year-old actress opened up about the difficult journey, revealing that Wade, 43, had kept his diagnosis extremely private, informing only a select few family members before undergoing the procedure.
“He’s had the surgery, and he’s cancer-free, but it was a challenge,” Union shared.
Despite Wade’s status as a global sports icon, he chose to handle his diagnosis quietly, something Union acknowledged was his way of protecting those around him.
“He didn’t tell everybody,” she explained. “He didn’t even tell our whole family.”
For Union, the news came as a complete shock. She admitted that upon hearing her husband’s diagnosis, she became “paralyzed” with fear, instantly fearing the worst.
“You think of the absolute worst-case scenario,” she recalled. “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.”
In a separate interview with Access Hollywood, Union further praised Wade’s decision to keep the health scare private for over a year, allowing their family the time to process it without the weight of public scrutiny.
“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 all of our very intense fears kind of dissipate a little bit,” she explained.
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Union also reassured fans that Wade is now in excellent health.
“He’s doing great,” she said. “We’re proud of him that he was brave enough to not only go through all the things that he needed to do to take care of his health, but to share it with the world and hopefully save other people.”
Wade first revealed his battle with kidney cancer in late January on an episode of his podcast, The Why With Dwyane Wade. He disclosed that doctors had discovered a tumor on his right kidney in December 2023, leading to a life-altering surgery in which 40 percent of the organ was removed.
The three-time NBA champion admitted that the experience was deeply emotional, not just for him but for his entire family.
“I think it was the first time that my family, my dad, my kids, they saw me weak,” Wade said on his podcast.
While Wade acknowledged that he initially struggled with facing his vulnerability, he ultimately found strength in the overwhelming support from his loved ones.
“I saw my family that may not always talk, may not always agree. I saw everybody show up for me and be there for me,” he shared.
“As a man, you never want your family to see you weak,” Wade added. “Don’t want to be perceived weak, don’t want to be seen in your weakest moments—but I had to.”
Wade and Union, who have been married since 2014, share a 6-year-old daughter, Kaavia. Wade is also father to son Zaire, 23, and daughter Zaya, 17, from his previous marriage to Siohvaughn Funches, as well as 11-year-old son Xavier with Aja Metoyer.
Now cancer-free, Wade’s story is not just one of resilience but also a reminder of the importance of family, early detection, and prioritizing one’s health.
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