Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi gives update on cervical cancer following diagnosis aged 38
Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi has shared a heartbreaking update after revealing her stage one cervical cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
In December 2009, Jersey Shore hit MTV for the first time, making an instant star of Polizzi, who was in her early 20s when she catapulted to fame.
Since then, the reality favourite has become a mother to three with her husband, Jionni LaValle, and recently shared that she’d been diagnosed with cervical cancer after years of ‘abnormal’ Pap smear results.
The NHS explains that 'cervical cancer is cancer that's found anywhere in the cervix, which is the opening between the vagina and the womb'. In the UK, around 3,000 women are diagnosed with the disease each year.
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In an intimate interview with People Magazine, 38-year-old Polizzi has confirmed she is due to undergo a ‘scary’ hysterectomy.
“I was scared,” she told the publication upon learning that she would need surgery. “But you know what? It's not the worst case and I can still deal with it. I'm gonna be fine.”
In case you don’t know, a hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the womb. It renders the person unable to get pregnant and means they will no longer get a menstrual period, as per the NHS.
Surgery is often the main treatment for cervical cancer, and, according to Polizzi’s doctors, she will not need any further treatment once it is completed.
Despite the reassurance, the TV icon has said she is nervous about going under the knife.
“I'm not great with pain, so thinking about removing an organ is scary,” she explained.
“That's a part of being a woman and even though I'm done having kids, the thought of not being able to really upset me. It messes with you a little bit.”
Polizzi announced that she had been diagnosed with stage one cervical cancer in February after months of attending various medical appointments due to her Pap smear results showing precancerous cells.
The star said that at first, the tests were ‘nothing crazy’, but medical experts kept a close eye on her, recommending she attend screenings every six months instead of the regular three years in the United States. In the UK, a smear test is offered every five years for people with a cervix aged 25 to 64.
However, the WrestleMania XXVII competitor said she’d begun to put them off, claiming that there was once a year and a half between exams.
“I knew something bad could happen but instead of dealing with it, I just pretended it wasn't happening,” Polizzi said.
Eventually, she received a call from her doctor and learned, amid further testing, that she had severe cancer cells.
It was claimed that these were likely to spread if they weren’t dealt with, as per the publication.
Despite her diagnosis and her upcoming hysterectomy, the Dancing with the Stars alum said that further tests confirmed that her cancer has not spread.
In an interview with Good Morning America, Polizzi claimed her children have struggled to understand what was going on with their mum.
“They keep asking, 'Are you dying? Like, are you dying today?' And I'm like, 'no, I'm not dying, I am just sick and I need to figure it out and then mummy will be fine’,” she lamented.
“So my little one thinks I'm dying. But my oldest ones, I feel like they know what's going on.”
What are the symptoms of cervical cancer?
According to the NHS, the main symptoms of the disease include:
- Vaginal bleeding that's unusual for you, e.g. bleeding during or after sex, between periods or after menopause, or experiencing heavier periods than usual
- Changes in vaginal discharge
- Pain when having sex
- Pain in the lower back, between the hip bones (pelvis), or in the lower stomach
The NHS notes that 'these symptoms are very common and can be caused by many different conditions'.
It adds: "Having them does not definitely mean you have cervical cancer. But it's important to get them checked by a GP.
"This is because if they're caused by cancer, finding it early means treatment is more likely to be successful."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.
Topics: Celebrity, Health, Cancer, Reality TV
Ella Scott