Snooki Reveals Stage 1 Cervical Cancer Diagnosis, Eyes Hysterectomy After Cone Biopsy
Nicole "snooki" Polizzi revealed on Feb. 20 that she has been diagnosed with Stage 1 cervical cancer after receiving the results of a cone biopsy following a doctor's appointment. The 38-year-old said the cancer was detected early, outlined next steps including a PET scan and likely hysterectomy, and used the moment to urge women to keep up with routine Pap smears.
Snooki's Diagnosis and Timeline
Polizzi, 38, first shared news that doctors had found cancerous cells on her cervix in a Jan. 20 TikTok after undergoing a colposcopy and biopsy that returned abnormal results. On Feb. 20 she revealed that the cone biopsy confirmed Stage 1 cervical cancer, identified as adenocarcinoma, and explained that she is still learning about the medical path ahead.
What the Cone Biopsy Revealed
The cone biopsy, a procedure in which abnormal tissue is removed from the cervix for testing, removed what was described as the tumor and the cancer that was present. Around that removed tissue, doctors found clear margins — no cancer cells on the surrounding tissue — which she described as an indication the cancer had not gone up into the cervix. She noted there remains a chance the cancer could spread elsewhere in the body.
Next Steps: PET Scan, Hysterectomy and Treatment Options
Polizzi said her next steps will include a PET scan to assess the extent of disease. Her oncologist outlined other options such as chemotherapy or radiation, but she indicated that a hysterectomy appears to be the smart choice for her. She plans to keep her ovaries, which she called a good sign, while removing the cervix and uterus; she said final decisions depend on the PET scan results.
Screening History and a Public Reminder
Polizzi shared that she had been struggling with abnormal Pap smears for three or four years before this diagnosis and urged women not to delay routine screenings. She emphasized that she went in despite fear and discomfort, and credited early detection with the Stage 1 finding. The mom of three also reflected on the tone of her year, saying 2026 is not panning out how she would like but that it could be worse, and that she must take further steps to rid herself of this illness.
Prevention, HPV and What Screening Can Find
Health organizations note that incidence of cervical cancer has been increasing among women in their 30s and early 40s even as it has decreased for women in their 20s. Cervical cancer is a growth of cells that starts in the cervix, and various strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause most cervical cancers. When exposed to HPV, the body’s immune system typically prevents the virus from doing harm, but in a small percentage of people the virus can survive for years and contribute to changes that turn cervical cells into cancer cells.
Cervical cancer is highly preventable in part because of the HPV vaccine and because routine screening can find the disease early. Screening tools include the HPV test and the Pap smear, and Polizzi used her platform to urge women to keep those appointments rather than delay them.
Symptoms and When to Seek Care
Symptoms of advanced cervical cancer can include abnormal vaginal bleeding, pain and discharge. Polizzi’s public disclosures stress early detection: she framed Stage 1 as curable and encouraged vigilance, noting her own multi-year history of abnormal Pap results that preceded the biopsies that ultimately identified cancerous cells.
Details remain subject to change as Polizzi completes her PET scan and finalizes treatment decisions. She shared both the immediate diagnosis and the personal imperative she feels to use the experience to remind others about routine screening and prevention.
