Nicole Polizzi, best known as “Snooki” from MTV’s Jersey Shore, has shared that she has been diagnosed with stage 1 cervical cancer.
Diagnosis and Early Detection
Polizzi opened up about her health journey in a TikTok video posted on February 20. She revealed that her biopsy results confirmed adenocarcinoma, a form of cervical cancer. “Obviously not the news I’ve been hoping for, but also not the worst news just because they caught it so early. Thank freaking God!” she said. The 38-year-old explained that she had struggled with abnormal pap smears for several years before undergoing a colposcopy and biopsy in January. She urged women to stay on top of routine screenings, emphasizing that early detection made her cancer treatable.
Treatment Plan
Polizzi shared that she has been referred to an oncologist and will undergo a PET scan to determine if the cancer has spread. Depending on the results, she expects to have a hysterectomy, while keeping her ovaries intact. “Obviously, I think the smart choice here is the hysterectomy,” she said, noting that lymph node removal may also be necessary.
Building a Community of Support
In her video, Polizzi encouraged women to share their own experiences with cervical cancer and abnormal pap smears. “We are a community of women, and there’s literally no platform or anywhere where women are talking about this,” she explained. “That was me, until I decided to upload the video of what is happening with me, and then we had a plethora of ladies comment below to say, ‘Girl, I’m in the same boat.’”
Staying Positive
Despite the diagnosis, Polizzi remained determined and optimistic. “I gotta keep attacking this and everything’s gonna be great,” she said. While acknowledging that 2026 has not gone as planned, she stressed that things could be much worse and expressed gratitude for catching the cancer early.
Career and Legacy
Polizzi rose to fame in 2009 as part of MTV’s Jersey Shore, appearing in six seasons before starring in spinoffs Snooki & Jwoww and Jersey Shore: Family Vacation. She has remained a pop culture fixture, known for her outspoken personality and resilience. Her openness about her diagnosis is already inspiring fans and raising awareness about the importance of regular screenings.
