Joe Amabile has revealed that he is set to have brain surgery within the next two weeks after doctors discovered a lesion during a routine health screening.
The former Bachelorette personality shared the news in an Instagram update, explaining that additional testing was ordered after an initial scan raised concerns.
“I didn’t share my Prenuvo results because they ended up finding a lesion in my brain.
“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.”
Amabile, 40, said the finding led to a quick referral for further treatment. He is now preparing for a craniotomy, a surgical procedure used to access the brain, after what he described as an early diagnosis.
Gliomas are a type of brain tumor that can arise from the brain’s support cells, and doctors say symptoms often depend on the tumor’s size and location. In many cases, the first clues are subtle and can be mistaken for migraines, stress, or other neurological issues.
“I now need to get brain surgery to get it removed and get it tested, and then we’re gonna go from there.
“So, it’s been a wild couple weeks. Definitely wasn’t expecting this.”
Brain tumors affect a significant number of people each year in the US. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 24,740 malignant brain and spinal cord tumors will be diagnosed in 2026, and around 18,350 people will die from brain and spinal cord cancers. Those cancers account for about 1% of new cancer diagnoses in the country each year.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, there are more than 120 different types of brain tumors.
Some of the more common warning signs can include persistent headaches, seizures, difficulty thinking clearly, personality or behavior changes, nausea, vomiting, weakness or numbness, and issues with speech, vision, or hearing.
Specialists also note that symptoms can vary depending on where the tumor is located in the brain.
“For example, a brain tumor located in the cerebellum at the back of the head may cause trouble with movement, walking, balance and coordination.
“But if the tumor affects the optic pathway, which is responsible for sight, vision changes may occur.”
Doctors say a craniotomy is the most common operation used to remove or sample a brain tumor, and surgery is often done to obtain a diagnosis, relieve pressure, or reduce symptoms. In some cases, additional treatment such as radiation or chemotherapy may be recommended depending on what pathology shows after the tissue is tested.
Amabile said he is trying to remain optimistic as he heads into surgery and deals with the uncertainty of what comes next.
“I’m doing my best to stay positive during this time and am lucky to have a lot of support from family and friends.
“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. Onto a new journey.”