‘Jersey Shore’ Star Snooki’s Cancer Scare After Pap Smear

Nicole Polizzi, 38, the US reality TV star also known as Snooki, recently shared her experience with abnormal cervical cancer test results. She rose to fame through her role on ‘Jersey Shore’, an American reality television series, which she starred in for six seasons from 2009 to 2012.

On January 21, 2026, Snooki revealed on her TikTok account that she had recently undergone a colposcopy and biopsy, which found cancerous cells in her cervix. A colposcopy is typically done after an abnormal Pap smear result. According to the TV personality, she already hated regular pap smears and she “knew it was gonna hurt” but she was “just like bracing myself for it”.

Currently, it is not yet confirmed if Snooki has cancer. She still needs to undergo a cone biopsy for further testing, which will be done under anesthesia. A cone biopsy is a minor surgical procedure that removes a cone-shaped piece of tissue from the cervix to diagnose cervical cancer.

Snooki was honest about her thoughts and fears during the whole process, admitting that "it’s scary, but we have to get it done because cervical cancer is nothing to joke about.”

Cervical cancer starts from the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the cervix. The cervix is part of the lower uterus that connects to the vagina.

The first-line of treatment for cervical cancer is usually surgery to remove the cancerous cells. If Snooki is diagnosed with cervical cancer, her doctors have proposed a hysterectomy to treat the cancer soon. A hysterectomy involves the removal of the entire uterus and cervix, leaving one unable to have kids.

While the thought of no longer being able to have kids makes her uncomfortable, the star mentioned that she was ready to do “whatever to keep me healthy and safe to be here for my kids that I have now”. Snooki has three children with her husband Jionni LaValle: Lorenzo, Angelo and Giovanna.

In her post, Snooki mentioned that she had put off scheduling her regular Pap smear examinations due to fear and discomfort associated with them. She took the opportunity to encourage women to stay on top of their appointments, and not to make the same mistake as her.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, women between age 21 and 30 should get a Pap smear at least once every three years. Those between the ages of 30 and 65, should have one every five years.

During a Pap smear, your doctor will gently scrape some cells from the surface of the cervix. This test is done to look for changes in your cervical cells before they turn cancerous. Pap smears generally should not be painful, although they may cause mild discomfort, or light cramping.