🚨 HE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A PRECAUTIONARY SCAN… THEN DOCTORS FOUND SOMETHING IN HIS BRAIN.

Bachelor Alum Joe Amabile Says He Was Diagnosed with Early Stage Brain Tumor

The reality star shared the health update in a candid social media video after weeks of scans and MRIs

Joe Amabile.Credit : 

Derek White/Getty

Joe Amabile is opening up about an unexpected health diagnosis.

In a social media video shared Monday, July 13, the Bachelor alum, who is widely known to fans as “Grocery Store Joe,” revealed that doctors discovered what appears to be an early-stage brain tumor after he underwent a full-body scan.

“So a little medical update. I didn’t share my Prenuvo results because they ended up finding a lesion in my brain,” Amabile said in the video. “So then I had to go get a brain MRI, and there was a blueberry-sized lesion in my brain that looks to be a glioma, which is a tumor.”

The 40-year-old said he is scheduled to undergo brain surgery in two weeks to remove the lesion and determine its exact nature.

“So I now need to get brain surgery [in two weeks] to get it removed and get it tested, and then we’re gonna go from there,” he said. “So it’s been a wild couple weeks. Definitely wasn’t expecting this.”

Amabile acknowledged the diagnosis has been difficult to process.

“I think it’s one of those things where you’re like, ‘Oh, something like this never happened to me,’ and here I am,” he said. “They say it’s really early stages. I hope they are able to get it all, and I’m fine. But I will keep you updated.”

In the caption accompanying his post, Amabile shared additional details about his upcoming treatment.

“This past month has been a lot of ups and downs to say the least,” he wrote. “After multiple scans and MRIs I have what looks to be an early stage brain tumor. In two weeks I’ll be undergoing a craniotomy to have it removed — yeah brain surgery — @memorialsloankettering.”

Despite the diagnosis, Amabile said he is focusing on staying optimistic and leaning on those closest to him.

“I’m doing my best to stay positive during this time and am lucky to have a lot of support from family and friends ❤️,” he wrote.

He added that he wrestled with whether to share the news publicly before deciding to be open about his health journey.

“I’ve gone back and forth about what I wanted to share on social media but ultimately this is now part of my life now, so might as well,” he wrote. “Onto a new journey.”

Amabile also shared a smiling photo to his Instagram Stories alongside the message, “This weekend was a great distraction.”

Among those showing their support was his wife, Serena Pitt, who commented on the post, “You’re so strong and we’re going to get through this together ❤️ I love you.”

The reality television personality first appeared on season 14 of The Bachelorette, where he competed for Becca Kufrin’s heart in 2018. Later that year, he joined season 5 of Bachelor in Paradise before returning for season 7 in 2021, where he met his now-wife.

Joe Amabile on The Bachelorette.Paul Hebert via Getty

Pitt, 28, first appeared on season 25 of The Bachelor, starring Matt James. She and Amabile fell in love on Bachelor in Paradise, leaving the show engaged before marrying in a courthouse ceremony in October 2022.

The couple celebrated a second wedding at The Cedar Room in Charleston, S.C., in September 2023 with 134 guests. At the time, Amabile described the celebration to PEOPLE as “the happiest moment of our lives,” while Pitt called it “a magical day.”

Their romance has continued to flourish since then. Months after celebrating their second wedding anniversary, Pitt told PEOPLE that Amabile continued to surprise her with thoughtful gestures long after the honeymoon phase.

Joe and Serena P. on Bachelor in Paradise.Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty

“There’s so many things about him that I thought may die off after the honeymoon stage,” Pitt said. “Joe still just continues to surprise me with little gifts and thoughtful gestures, and that really is who he is, and I love that.”

Amabile jokingly added, “She steals the comforter from me every single night.”

Today, the couple co-hosts the podcast Not Married To This with Serena and Joe, where they share relationship advice and personal stories together.

SOURCE: https://people.com/bachelor-alum-joe-amabile-says-doctors-found-an-early-stage-brain-tumor-12018738