An emotional Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi announced on Friday that she underwent a hysterectomy operation to treat Stage 1 cervical cancer, months after first disclosing her diagnosis.
The reality star, who earned fame as a hard-partying roommate on MTV’s “Jersey Shore,” announced her health scare earlier this year. Polizzi, 38, credited regular Pap smears with catching her cancer early and encouraged other women to keep up with their own exams for early detection.
Gynecologists use Pap smears to identify irregular cervical cells that can signal cancer or develop into the disease. A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus and can treat conditions ranging from cancer to endometriosis and fibroids.
“I’m going to be honest with you — not great,” Polizzi said in a TikTok post from her recovery bed. “I told you guys, in general I’m not good with pain and I’ve really been trying to be tough, but it’s not great.”
Polizzi documented her surgery experience on TikTok, from her drive to the hospital with her parents to the moment her stretcher was wheeled into the operating room. According to Polizzi, doctors also repaired her abdominal wall and performed a partial vaginal removal during the procedure.
The TV personality and businesswoman has used her platform to raise awareness about the disease and the importance of routine screening. Polizzi broke down in her video message to followers but said she was trying to stay strong.
“The nurses, they’re great. They’re saying I’m going to do fine,” she said through tears, recalling the moments before her operation. “So I lay down and I’m like, f---, it’s happening.”
“Love you! Strongest badass — it’s over and now on the road to recovery,” Polizzi’s “Jersey Shore” co-star Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola wrote in a comment.
Pap smears are a routine, minimally invasive component of women’s health exams. When they reveal abnormal cells, physicians can monitor the situation for potential problems.
Cervical cancer rates remain a concern for researchers and advocates. The American Cancer Society found cervical cancer diagnosis rose 2% annually among women in their 30s and 40s from 2012 to 2019.
Polizzi has not publicly discussed the cause of her cancer. HPV is considered the primary cause of cervical cancers. About eight in 10 women will have an HPV infection before age 50, according to the Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center. Many cases of HPV resolve on their own.
