How Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi’s cervical cancer diagnosis highlights the importance of routine ob/gyn visits

When Jersey Shore star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi recently revealed she would undergo a radical hysterectomy after being diagnosed with Stage 1 cervical cancer, she didn’t just share a health update.

She started a conversation.

By candidly opening up about her diagnosis and encouraging women to stay up to date on annual ob/gyn visits, Polizzi is helping remind others that early detection can save lives and that no one has to face these experiences alone.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, with more than 13,400 cases diagnosed annually, according to the American Cancer Society. However, many aren’t aware they are living with the disease.

Usually slow growing and symptomless in its early stages, cervical cancer is oftentimes only discovered by a Pap smear, which finds precancerous cell changes, or an HPV test, which detects the underlying virus behind nearly all cases.

“It’s so important to go for your annual ob/gyn visit and keep up with your Pap smears, even if you feel fine. Cervical cancer doesn’t become symptomatic until it’s at an advanced stage,” says David Goldstein, MD, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic Medical Group’s Ob/Gyn Langhorne.

Polizzi is using her platform to spread awareness of this importance to her millions of fans. After an abnormal Pap smear result showed precancerous cells, with her ob/gyn recommending a six-month screening schedule, she delayed returning for a year and a half because of the uncomfortable nature of the test. When she did go back, the 38-year-old mom of three was diagnosed with Stage 1 cervical cancer.

Since the cancer was caught quickly, it didn’t spread. Therefore, Polizzi will undergo in the next few months a radical hysterectomy—the standard treatment for early-stage, highly curable cervical cancer—and not need radiation or chemotherapy.

“It’s not the news I was hoping for, but it’s also not the worst news because they caught it so early,” Polizzi said in a social media post. “Instead of just putting [my appointment] off because I didn’t want to go and it hurt and I was scared, no—I just went and did it. And [the cancer] was there. Get your appointments done.”

Since the cancer was caught quickly, it didn’t spread. Therefore, Polizzi will undergo in the next few months a radical hysterectomy—the standard treatment for early-stage, highly curable cervical cancer—and not need radiation or chemotherapy.

A radical hysterectomy involves the removal of the uterus, cervix, upper part of the vagina and surrounding supportive tissues. The ovaries, fallopian tubes and nearby lymph nodes may also be removed, though this varies by patient.

Other types of hysterectomies include:

• Total abdominal: Removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes and cervix, with or without the ovaries
• Supracervical: Removal of the top of the uterus and fallopian tubes
• Laparoscopic: Minimally invasive procedure to remove the uterus
• Vaginal: Avoids surgical incisions on the abdomen and removes the uterus, cervix and fallopian tubes vaginally

While the radical hysterectomy is most common among cervical cancer patients, these other procedures are often used to treat conditions such as:

• Abnormal bleeding
• Fibroids
• Endometriosis
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Uterine hyperplasia

Depending on the type of hysterectomy procedure, recovery can take anywhere from two to six weeks. If the ovaries are removed, side effects may involve “surgical menopause,” where hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness could start a few days later.

Even after recovering, however, there is a huge emotional piece. While a woman might be cancer-free or cured of chronic pain, her ability to naturally have children is gone. To help patients navigate this, Dr. Goldstein and the team of ob/gyns at Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic connect them to resources on egg freezing, surrogacy, therapy and support groups.

The latter is especially vital. Approximately 600,000 hysterectomies are performed annually in the United States, according to the National Library of Medicine. Despite it being the most common non-obstetric procedure among women, many feel alone in their journey.

Luckily, Polizzi is helping to change that.

“A lot of women go through it silently without anyone to talk to and they’re scared by themselves,” she said in her social media post. “I don’t know anyone personally that has gone through this. So being able to read people’s comments definitely helped me to just know that I’m not alone and everything’s going to be okay.”

Approximately 600,000 hysterectomies are performed annually in the United States, according to the National Library of Medicine. Despite it being the most common non-obstetric procedure among women, many feel alone in their journey.

For any women who are hesitant to schedule that annual ob/gyn appointment because, like Polizzi, they’re scared of what they’ll be told, Dr. Goldstein urges them to take control of their health. When it comes to cervical cancer, early detection is key.

“Keeping up to date with your Pap smear and HPV testing is extremely important,” says Dr. Goldstein. “And it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Anything abnormal, such as bleeding, over the age of 35 should be brought to clinical attention with your ob/gyn.”

For more information on women’s health services at Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic and to make an appointment, visit Women’s Health.