Snooki Reveals Stage 1 Cervical Cancer, Plans Hysterectomy After PET Scan
Nicole "snooki" Polizzi announced she has been diagnosed with Stage 1 cervical cancer following the results of a cone biopsy she underwent this month. The disclosure matters now because doctors removed the tumor during that procedure and have scheduled further testing that will determine a major surgical step to remove her cervix and uterus.
Snooki: Development details
On Feb. 20 Polizzi shared the diagnosis publicly after receiving the pathology results from a cone biopsy: the cancer is Stage 1 adenocarcinoma. The 38-year-old revealed that the cone biopsy removed what doctors identified as the tumor and that tissue around the removed area tested clear of cancer cells, indicating the disease had not penetrated farther into the cervix at the time of that procedure.
Polizzi has been navigating abnormal Pap smear results for three to four years, a pattern that led to a colposcopy and an earlier biopsy. She first disclosed that doctors had found cancerous cells on Jan. 20, following that earlier colposcopy and biopsy. After the cone biopsy confirmed Stage 1 disease, her medical team scheduled a PET scan to check for any spread, and her oncologist presented treatment options—chemotherapy or radiation—before recommending a hysterectomy as the preferred next step.
Context and escalation
The path to this diagnosis began with routine cervical screening that returned abnormal findings over multiple years. Those abnormal Pap smears prompted a more focused examination with colposcopy and biopsy, which showed abnormal cells; subsequent cone biopsy testing then established the presence of adenocarcinoma at an early stage. Polizzi described the timing as unwelcome for her plans in 2026 but emphasized that early detection makes the condition curable.
Medical context in the public discussion around her case points to broader trends in cervical cancer detection and prevention. The American Cancer Society notes a rise in incidence among women in their 30s and early 40s while incidence has declined for women in their 20s. Explanatory descriptions from the Mayo Clinic included in the public material clarify that cervical cancer begins as a growth of cells in the cervix and that several strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) are implicated in most cases. Routine screening and preventive measures are highlighted as ways that cancer can be found early.
Immediate impact
The immediate medical consequence for Polizzi is a planned change in management: she will undergo a PET scan to determine whether cancer cells have spread beyond the cervix, and, depending on that result, move forward with a hysterectomy. She has indicated she will keep her ovaries as part of the surgical plan. The oncologist presented chemotherapy or radiation as alternate options, but the team concluded that removing the cervix and uterus is the prudent course based on current findings.
Beyond the clinical steps, Polizzi’s public disclosure has prompted a personal plea urging women to maintain routine screening. She emphasized that putting off Pap smears because of fear or discomfort can delay detection, noting her own experience of living with years of abnormal results before the cancer diagnosis was confirmed.
Forward outlook
The next confirmed milestone in Polizzi’s care is the PET scan, which will inform whether the cancer has spread and thereby determine final treatment decisions. If the scan shows no spread, she is scheduled to proceed with a hysterectomy while retaining her ovaries; if there is evidence of spread, the previously outlined alternatives—chemotherapy or radiation—remain on the table. Polizzi has framed the situation as curable at this early stage and is moving through the diagnostic and treatment steps established by her medical team.
What makes this notable is the sequence from routine screening to focused diagnostic procedures: years of abnormal Pap smears triggered colposcopy and biopsy, which in turn led to the cone biopsy that both identified and removed the tumor tissue. That chain of medical actions directly shaped the options now before her and underscores the central role of screening and targeted diagnostic work in detecting cervical cancer early.
