Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi has opened up about her recent cervical cancer scare.
The 38-year-old blew up following her appearance on MTV's Jersey Shore, which ran from 2009 to 2012. Polizzi was one of the breakout stars of the cast, with her iconic hairdo and love of pickles becoming key pop culture moments.
Since then, the reality TV star has gotten married to Jionni LaValle, with whom she has three children, and has maintained a strong social media presence.
Recently, Polizzi took to TikTok to share her results after receiving abnormal pap smear results for the past four years, which led her to undergo an 'uncomfortable' colposcopy and biopsy.
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She said: "Results come back. Doctor calls me and he’s like, ‘Not looking great.’ He found cancerous cells on the top of my cervix."
The Snooki & Jwoww star continued to say that she will need to undergo a cone biopsy under anaesthesia for further testing, and although she is 'terrified', she says it is important for her to do.
Nicole added: "It’s scary, but we have to get it done because cervical cancer is nothing to joke about."
She then explained that if her second biopsy test comes back abnormal, then she may have to undergo a hysterectomy, which is a surgical procedure to remove the uterus.
Though Nicole says she's 'done having kids', the thought of getting a hysterectomy is 'just sad and scary', as the TV personality added:
"Getting the hysterectomy and then not being able to have kids, I think that’s what’s killing me. But whatever to keep me healthy and safe to be here for my kids that I have now."
She also warned others against missing appointments, including smear tests, as she revealed that she'd initially 'waited' before scheduling them out of fear.
Nicole added: "The reason why my doctor’s on my a** all the time is because I waited. I waited on my damn appointments because I knew I might not get great results, but also because I didn’t want to feel the pain. I didn’t want to deal with the stress of having to deal with all of this."
While her situation is terrifying, Nicole hopes that by speaking out, she will help encourage others in a similar position.
"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. Make sure you’re fine and prevent all the bad things that could happen, like cervical cancer," she said.
The TV star concluded the video by stating that being a woman 'is not easy' and that her current predicament is a 'scary thing', adding: "I know I’m going to be fine.
"It’s just scary."
Callum Jones