Bachelor star Joe Amabile had 'no symptoms' before brain tumor diagnosis at age 40: 'It's been a rollercoaster'

The Bachelorette alum who had a brain tumor removed at age 40 has revealed more about his 'rollercoaster' health journey in an exclusive new interview with The Daily Mail.

Joe Amabile underwent a craniotomy in September just months after a full-body scan led to the detection of a 'blueberry-sized' lesion in his brain.

The surgery was successful, with Amabile declaring 'They got it all!' in photos taken from his hospital room. 

He is now preparing for the New York City Marathon.  

In an exclusive interview with The Daily Mail, Amabile, 40, shared more insight into the diagnosis, his recovery, and how the urging of his wife Serena Pitt, 28, ultimately prompted the discovery of the early-stage glioma. 

Amabile suffered no symptoms and only discovered the lesion after he underwent a full-body MRI scan at the recommendation of his wife.  

'No symptoms,' he told The Daily Mail. 'We were doing a Prenuvo scan, full body scan, just to like, 'why not?', type of thing. 

'I didn't even want to do it at first and Serena talked me into it. And I was like, I just turned forty, I should check,' he said. 'It's been a rollercoaster ever since.'

Once he received the diagnosis, Amabile was determined to maintain his 'positive outlook' in the face of the health scare.   

'We were obviously scared and very worried,' he said. 'I'm someone that has a positive outlook in life, and I wasn't going to let this change that.

'There's so much that is out of your control, but I just kept hoping that hopefully, we hear good news, type of thing. And yeah, so far I think it's been all right.'

Initially, the recovery from the surgery was 'rough' - Amabile was on pain medication right after the procedure and still suffers from light sensitivity. 

However he's been making strides in his improvement day by day:  'I'm getting better and better every day,' he said. 'I'm still technically in recovery, and I will be till, I think, the end of the year.' 

As part of his post-op treatment, Amabile is now taking medication and also plans on getting semi-regular MRIs.  

'The way my tumor works is, they did get the whole thing, and he got extra. But there's usually cells, because it was cancer, there's usually cells left over,' he said. 'So I have to get MRIs every three months for the first year, and then I'm on a medication that I take daily that is an IDH inhibitor that puts whatever cells are still there, puts them to sleep, locks them up, and hopefully I never have to worry about it again.'

When asked if he was considered in remission, Amabile said: 'Honestly, they've never said that to me. 

'I know that my first MRI, my first MRI back is at the end of November, so I think if that's I think if that's a clean MRI, then I should be. I don't know if they consider remission or not.' 

Shortly after the surgery, Amabile celebrated his wedding anniversary with Pitt - an occasion that served as a double milestone, marking the first time he had been out to eat since the surgery.  

'We went to The Grill in Manhattan, and that was the first time I went out to a restaurant,' he said. 'That was fun to do.'

Now Amabile is training for the New York City marathon, albeit at a gentler pace.

'It was really important for me to set a goal. When you're having brain surgery, there's just so much out of your control. 

'So it was nice to set a goal that I have control over. The way I train has changed. I trained way, way differently last year,' he said. 

'I'm still training, it's just less, and it's more resting and more mobility work and stretching.'

Amabile has now partnered with Northwestern Mutual and is grateful that he had his finances 'in order' prior to the medical emergency. 

'We're pretty good with our finances,' he said. 'We've had things in order and, you know, thankfully I did, because if I didn't, that would just be another stressor to add to my plate that I don't need, 'cause stress will kill you.'

The reality star teamed up with the mutual financial services company for an event at Grand Central Terminal on Tuesday, where they offered people the chance to reflect on goals. 

'We're at Grand Central Terminal, and it's really just about people writing down a goal,' he said. 

'Like I know, unexpected things can happen in life,' he said. 'That can change your path, but it doesn't necessarily have to change your goal.'

'What Northwestern Mutual does so well is they have their financial planners or their experts that guide you along the way. Financing could be... intimidating and scary for a lot of people. So having help and guidance is so important.' 

Amabile has been married to Pitt since 2022, who he met on Bachelor in Paradise in 2021.

Pitt commented: 'You’re so strong and we’re going to get through this together. I love you.'

Amabile first came into the spotlight when he was one of the eligible bachelors vying for Becca Kufrin on The Bachelorette Season 14 in 2018.

He was eliminated on the first night but his affable personality saw him dubbed 'Grocery store Joe' and saw him parlay his fame into an appearance on Dancing With the Stars.

Less than a month after the surgery, Pitt reaffirmed her commitment to stay by her husband's side through 'sickness and in health' with a tender anniversary post. 

'In sickness and in health my love…and everything in between! Even after going through one of our most challenging chapters, life keeps getting fuller and brighter with you,' she posted. 'I truly can’t imagine falling more in love with you, yet somehow I do every single year.'