Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi was recently diagnosed with stage 1 cervical cancer. Fortunately for the Jersey Shore star, further testing has confirmed the cancer hasn't spread. As such, it's believed that after a hysterectomy in the coming months, she won't need any further treatment.
Videos by Wide Open Country
"I had a breakdown," Snooki told PEOPLE. "I got to my car and I called my mom hysterically crying, thinking the worst...I was scared. But you know what? It's not the worst case and I can still deal with it. I'm gonna be fine."
In recent years, Snooki has received multiple abnormal pap smear results. They show precancerous cells. Therefore, her doctor began recommending pap smear tests every six months, as opposed to the three-year rule that is standard practice.
However, Snooki began putting them off, noting how they were uncomfortable.
"I ended up not going for like a year and a half because it's uncomfortable, it's not fun," she told PEOPLE.
The problem with her decision was that she was putting herself at risk. Unfortunately, Snooki continued to push those concerns out of her mind.
"I knew something bad could happen," she said, "but instead of dealing with it, I just pretended it wasn't happening."
Fortunately for Snooki, she had a persistent doctor, who kept calling, eventually convincing her to get her latest pap test.
"My doctor was leaving me a voicemail screaming at me like, 'You need to get in here. This is serious. You don't want it to escalate.' That's when I finally went in," she explained.
Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi Revealed Her Diagnosis on Instagram
Upon receiving her cancer diagnosis, Snooki uploaded a video to TikTok, explaining her situation.
"Instead of just putting it off because I didn't want to go, and it hurt, and I was scared—No, I just went and did it, and it was there. Cancer's in there, and it's only stage one, and it's curable. So, if I do all the things right, it can be curable or gone. I don't know," Snooki said. "So get your appointments done. I'm telling you."
As the video continued, Snooki detailed what her biopsy entailed along with the overall findings.
"They took a chunk out of my cervix. And they said the margins came back clear, which means the chunk that they took out, that was like the tumor, the cancer that was in there. But then, around it, was clear. So there were no cancer cells on that, which means it didn't go up into the cervix, which is a good thing," She said. "The next thing that I have scheduled is a PET scan... I have to drink this like nasty fluid the day before. And that'll detect if the cancer (has) spread."
Despite the news she received, she made sure to use her platform to urge women to stay up to date with their pap tests.
"Just making this video to spread awareness to make sure you get your pap smears. And if your doctor calls you to do it again, do it," she said in a different video. "Make sure you're fine and prevent all the bad things that could happen, like cervical cancer."
Thankfully, doctors found Snooki's cancer in time, and hopefully, she will make a full recovery. Hopefully, her situation will ensure others recognize the importance of their pap tests and stay on top of their appointments.
Hang in there Kat!