Snooki Reveals Stage 1 Cervical Most cancers Prognosis, Shares Therapy Plan
Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi is sharing an update in her health journey.
The Jersey Shore star, 38, revealed her stage I cervical cancer diagnosis in a TikTok video on Friday, February 20.
“Obviously not the news that I was hoping for,” Snooki said after revealing that she recently had a biopsy. “But also not the worst news, just because they caught it so early.”
Snooki then reminded viewers to get their Pap smears, as the annual test is what found the cancerous cells on her cervix. (A Pap smear involves “collecting cells from the cervix for testing,” according to the Mayo Clinic.)
“That’s why I’m literally telling you guys to get your Pap smears done. I’m 38 years old. I’ve been struggling with abnormal Pap smears for like, three, four years now,” she continued. “And now look at me, and instead of just, like, putting it off because I didn’t want to go, and it hurt and I was scared, no, I just went and did it, [and] cancer’s in there, and it’s only stage I and it’s curable.”
Snooki explained that she first had a colposcopy, which “took a chunk out of [her] cervix.” (According to the Mayo Clinic, a colposcopy is a test “for abnormal tissue” where a doctor uses a “colposcope” tool to better see the area before sending tissue to a lab for testing.)
After the colposcopy, she had a cone biopsy, where “surgeons remove a cone-shaped wedge of abnormal tissue from your cervix,” Mayo Clinic states.
The biopsy ultimately found that the margins around the tumor were clear, meaning that it hasn’t spread beyond the cervix. However, she said there is a chance the cancer could spread further in her body, as this type of cancer is typically “more aggressive” when it comes to spreading.
Snooki said she has a PET scan scheduled next to determine whether or not there is cancer elsewhere in her body.
“And then after that, I’m going to probably get the hysterectomy, because the oncologist said you can either do chemo, radiation or the hysterectomy,” she continued. “Obviously, I think the smart choice here is the hysterectomy. I’ll still keep my ovaries, which is a good sign, but the hysterectomy, got to get the cervix in, the uterus out and then possibly lymph nodes, because it can [spread there]. So I guess it all depends on the PET scan.”
Though Snooki said the year is “not turning out” like she thought it would, she’s remaining positive.
“Could be very much worse,” she added.
Snooki also asked her followers to comment on the video if they’re going through something similar and promised to be “vulnerable” on her social media as she continues to share updates on her cancer battle.
The reality star’s announcement came after she expressed fear over getting her biopsy done in a January 23 TikTok video.
“I’m scared and freaking out,” Snooki said, getting emotional. “We have to get it done because cervical cancer is nothing to joke about. I obviously do not want to get this. … If now this biopsy comes back not great, the next step would be a hysterectomy.”
Snooki, who shares kids Lorenzo, 13, Giovanna, 11, and Angelo, 6, with husband Jionni LaValle, continued, “I knew I was going to get emotional. The thought of getting a hysterectomy is sad and it’s scary. [I’ll do] whatever to keep me healthy and safe to be here for my kids. It’s just scary.”