Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi is speaking out about a challenging health battle, revealing that she has been diagnosed with Stage 1 cervical cancer. The Jersey Shore star, 38, shared the news two months after receiving her diagnosis, which followed years of managing abnormal Pap smears.
In a candid discussion, Polizzi described the upcoming procedure—a hysterectomy—as a "scary" but necessary step in her treatment plan. Despite the gravity of the situation, she remains optimistic about her prognosis. "I was scared," Polizzi said. "But you know what? It's not the worst case and I can still deal with it. I'm gonna be fine."
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Polizzi, who is a mother to three children—Lorenzo, 13, Giovanna, 11, and Angelo, 6—with her husband Jionni LaValle, admitted that the prospect of the surgery has been emotionally difficult. "I'm not great with pain, so thinking about removing an organ is scary," she shared. "That's a part of being a woman, and even though I'm done having kids, the thought of not being able to really upset me. It messes with you a little bit."
Prioritizing Health and Prevention
The reality personality was transparent about her own hesitation in seeking medical care. Despite being advised to undergo screenings every six months due to her history of abnormal results, she admitted to skipping appointments for over a year. "I knew something bad could happen, but instead of dealing with it, I just pretended it wasn't happening," she confessed.
It was only after persistent follow-ups from her physician throughout 2025 that she returned for testing. The subsequent discovery of precancerous cells, followed by a colposcopy and cone biopsy, confirmed the presence of "severe cancer cells."
Polizzi is now using her platform to urge other women to prioritize their health. "I feel like nobody talks about cervical cancer," she noted. "The main point of me talking about this is for girls to get on their s—t and not do what I did… this is very preventable."
As she prepares for her surgery, Polizzi expressed gratitude for the support system surrounding her. "The best part about everything is realizing how many people care," she said. "I have a ton of people that are here for me, and they love me."