AceShowbiz - After a gruelling journey marked by secrecy and immense courage, Dwyane Wade is now cancer-free. His wife Gabrielle Union opens up about her family's tumultuous experience and the strength they found in each other.

"He's cancer free now," she told Access Hollywood before reflecting on their decision to delay announcement about his diagnosis, "[That decision gave] us a little time to make peace with it and let all of our very intense fears dissipate a little bit, but he's doing well."

In a recent string of public appearances, Union talked about her husband's year-long battle with kidney cancer. The couple's ordeal began when Wade, 43, was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on his right kidney in December 2023. Choosing to keep his diagnosis under wraps, Wade only shared the news with a select few family members, including Union.

Union, 52, detailed her initial reaction on "The View," confessing that the unexpected diagnosis left her "paralyzed with fear." She explained how Wade's announcement shattered her, leading her to immediately assume the worst-case scenario.

"You think of the absolute worst-case scenario," she shared. "I've had so many friends who are cancer survivors, [but] I didn't go there. I went to, 'He's gone.' "

The former Miami Heat member revealed more about his health challenges on his own podcast, "The Why With Dwyane Wade." He explained that an uncomfortable cramp and issues with urine led him to undergo a full body scan, which revealed the tumor.

Ultimately, doctors had to surgically remove 40 percent of his right kidney to eradicate the cancer. Wade described the difficulty of exposing his vulnerability to his family for the first time, admitting, "As a man, you never want your family to see you weak."

Despite initial fears, Union praised her husband for his bravery and his decision to keep his diagnosis private for a year. She applauded Wade during an interview with Access Hollywood, emphasizing the wisdom in his choice to delay the announcement.

"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," 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."

Today, Dwyane Wade is officially cancer-free, much to the relief of his family. Union noted that he is doing "great" after his surgery although he's left with one kidney functioning at 60 percent.

Wade has described this experience as the first time his family saw him weak, but he also highlighted how their support gave him strength. "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 said.