Snooki Cancer: Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi Reveals Stage 1 Cervical Cancer and Outlines Next Steps
Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi has revealed she has been diagnosed with Stage 1 cervical cancer, an update she shared on Feb. 20 after receiving cone biopsy results — a development many will follow closely, and one that she used to urge women to keep up with routine screening. The phrase snooki cancer has become central to the conversation about her health and the choices ahead.
What Snooki Cancer Diagnosis Means: Stage 1 Adenocarcinoma and the Cone Biopsy
Polizzi, 38 and a mom of three, said the cone biopsy — the procedure that removes abnormal tissue from the cervix for testing — came back showing Stage 1 cervical cancer called adenocarcinoma. The cone biopsy removed what doctors identified as the tumor, and tests found that tissue around the removed area was clear. That finding was described as meaning there were no cancer cells on that surrounding tissue, which was characterized as not going up into the cervix, while medical teams still note there is a chance the cancer could spread elsewhere in her body.
Timeline: Prior Tests, Colposcopy and the January Update
Polizzi first disclosed that doctors had found cancerous cells on her cervix in a Jan. 20 TikTok after undergoing a colposcopy and biopsy that returned abnormal results. The Feb. 20 update followed a doctor’s appointment where she received the cone biopsy results and provided the fuller diagnosis and next-step plan publicly.
Treatment Path: PET Scan, Hysterectomy and Alternatives
Her stated next step is a PET scan to determine whether the cancer has spread elsewhere. Polizzi said she is likely to undergo a hysterectomy; her oncologist presented chemotherapy or radiation as alternative options. She indicated that keeping her ovaries is expected, and that the ultimate plan will depend on the PET scan outcome. Polizzi described the hysterectomy as the smart choice for her situation.
Screening Message: Why Polizzi Urged Routine Pap Smears
Polizzi emphasized that she had been struggling with abnormal Pap smears for three or four years and urged women not to put off routine Pap smears. She framed her decision to follow up as critical: instead of postponing care because she felt hurt or scared, she went and the cancer was found at a stage she called curable. The personal appeal was tied directly to her diagnosis and follow-up plan.
Context on Cervical Cancer, Prevention and Symptoms
Cervical cancer is described as a growth of cells that starts in the cervix, with various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) able to cause most cervical cancers. When exposed to HPV, the body’s immune system typically prevents the virus from doing harm; however, the virus can survive for years in a small percentage of people and contribute to changes that allow some cervical cells to become cancer cells. Cervical cancer is noted to be highly preventable in part because of the HPV vaccine, and routine screening can find the cancer early through HPV testing and Pap smears. Symptoms associated with advanced cervical cancer include abnormal vaginal bleeding, pain and discharge.
Broader Pattern and Personal Outlook
Polizzi reflected that 2026 is not panning out how she’d like, while adding that it could be worse and that she still has further steps to get rid of this. She described the experience as something she feels is very common in women. Broader incidence trends mentioned alongside her announcement note increasing rates of cervical cancer among women in their 30s and early 40s even as rates have decreased for women in their 20s. The personal timeline, the planned PET scan, and the likely hysterectomy frame the immediate path forward for Polizzi as she and her medical team pursue treatment and monitoring.
The snooki cancer update blends a personal health disclosure with a public reminder about screening and prevention; details may evolve as Polizzi proceeds with the PET scan and final treatment decisions.
