Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, the vivacious reality star who became a household name through MTV’s “Jersey Shore,” has revealed she is facing a new and deeply personal challenge: a diagnosis of stage 1 cervical cancer. In a candid TikTok video posted on February 20, 2026, Polizzi, 38, shared the news with her millions of followers, opening up about her recent medical journey and the emotions that have come with it.
Sitting in her car between medical appointments, Snooki didn’t shy away from the gravity of her situation. “Obviously not the news that I was hoping for, but also not the worst news just because they caught it so early. Thank freaking God!” she said, her signature blend of honesty and humor shining through even in a difficult moment, according to Deadline and Variety.
The diagnosis came after a cone biopsy, a surgical procedure that removes a cone-shaped piece of tissue from the cervix to check for precancerous or cancerous cells. Polizzi explained, “My results came back for my cone biopsy, and it came back stage 1 cervical cancer called adenocarcinoma.” She had been struggling with abnormal Pap smears for three or four years prior to this diagnosis, a detail she emphasized to stress the importance of regular screenings. “I’m 38 years old and I’ve been struggling with abnormal Pap smears for three or four years now, and now look at me,” she said. “Instead of putting it off because I didn’t want to go, because I was hurt and scared, I just went and did it. And it was there, cancer is in there. But it’s stage 1 and it’s curable.” (The Independent, Philadelphia Inquirer)
Snooki’s openness about her journey is striking in a world where many women face cervical cancer silently. “A lot of women go through it silently without anyone to talk to and they’re scared by themselves,” she noted. “I like that we have a platform here to talk about it with each other. I appreciate all of the love. Everything’s going to be fine. I’m going to tackle this and get it done. I gotta keep attacking this, and everything’s gonna be great.”
Her message was clear and urgent: routine Pap smears can be life-saving. “So get your appointments done, bitches! I’m telling you! Once you go to stage 2, then you have to do chemo… nobody wants to do that! It’s scary. So get your appointments done,” she implored her audience, using her trademark directness to encourage preventive care. According to the American Cancer Society, regular screening and prevention efforts—particularly the Pap smear and HPV vaccination—have led to a dramatic decline in cervical cancer deaths since the 1970s, with over 13,000 cases still diagnosed annually in the U.S.
The news has shaken Snooki’s year, which she described with a wry sense of humor. “2026 is not panning out how I wanted it to, but also [it] could be worse,” she remarked, acknowledging both the disruption to her plans and her gratitude that the cancer was caught early.
Looking ahead, Polizzi outlined her next steps with characteristic candor. She plans to see an oncologist and undergo a PET scan to determine if the cancer has spread beyond her cervix. Depending on the results, she is likely to undergo a hysterectomy—a surgical removal of the uterus and cervix—but she expressed hope that her ovaries could be preserved. “Obviously, I think the smart choice here is the hysterectomy. I’ll still keep my ovaries, which is a good sign. But yeah, gotta get the cervix and uterus out. It all depends on the PET scan,” she explained in her video.
She also acknowledged the possibility of lymph node removal, depending on what her doctors find. The main treatments for stage 1 cervical cancer, as noted by Cancer Research UK and cited by The Independent, are surgery—often a hysterectomy—and, in some cases, combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy if the disease has spread further.
Polizzi’s announcement has drawn an outpouring of support from fans and her “Jersey Shore” family. Co-stars Jenni “JWoww” Farley and Sammi Giancola responded to her TikTok with messages of love and encouragement. “I love you so much,” wrote Farley, while Giancola added, “The strongest woman, love you!” Their responses reflect the tight-knit nature of the cast, whose lives have been intertwined since the original “Jersey Shore” debuted in 2009. Polizzi became one of the show’s breakout stars, later appearing in spin-offs such as “Snooki & JWoww” and “Jersey Shore: Family Vacation.”
Beyond her television persona, Polizzi’s life has been grounded in New Jersey, where she still lives with her husband of 11 years and their three children. She has often shared glimpses of her family life on social media, and her recent health news has prompted many to reflect on her journey from reality TV wild child to devoted mother and advocate for women’s health.
Cervical cancer, while less common than other cancers, remains a significant health risk for women. The primary cause is the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection. Vaccines against HPV have been shown to dramatically reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer, and routine Pap smears can catch abnormal cells before they become cancerous. The American Cancer Society’s statistics underscore the importance of these measures: while more than 13,000 cases are diagnosed each year in the U.S., the death rate has dropped by over half since the mid-1970s, thanks largely to increased screening and vaccination efforts.
Polizzi’s willingness to share her diagnosis and treatment plan publicly is already having an impact. Social media has been flooded with messages from women who say her story has inspired them to schedule overdue Pap smears or talk openly about their own health concerns. In a culture that often shies away from discussing gynecological health, Snooki’s candor is a reminder that fame can be a powerful platform for change.
As she faces further tests and the likelihood of surgery, Polizzi remains determined and optimistic. “I gotta keep attacking this, and everything’s gonna be great,” she told her followers, offering a sense of hope and resilience that has defined her public persona for more than a decade. Whatever the next chapter holds, Snooki’s message is clear: early detection saves lives, and no one should have to face cancer alone.