Top Chef alum Shirley Chung has shared that she is battling stage 4 tongue cancer.
The restaurateur announced the news via a lengthy post on Instagram. She explained how she had been suffering dental issues since December, and in May an oral surgeon “discovered a hidden tumor” under her tongue, which lead to her diagnosis.
“Hiiiii loves, I have some personal news to share with you,” Chung wrote in her July 26 Instagram post. “Since last year December, I had a series of dental issues, I bit my tongue severely; I fractured my tooth and had to extract it and get an implant… we thought it was because I am a heavy teeth grinder.”
The chef admitted that at the time she had been “too busy” to see an ENT.
It wasn’t until the end of May 2024 that “ulcers erupted” in her mouth and her oral surgeon discovered a tumor under her tongue.
“A few days later, I was diagnosed, stage 4 tongue cancer, as cancer cells also spread into my lymph nodes,” she wrote alongside a series of images and clips of herself shaving her head.
Noting she’s someone who “always thrives under pressure,” Chung was able to remain calm when she received the news. She wanted to focus on completing all the necessary tests and scans so she could get started with treatment sooner rather than later.
But when it came time to discuss her treatment plan, she broke down.
“I broke down, crying, trying to put thoughts together and ask questions but physically couldn’t, all I heard was ‘option 1, surgery, 100% removal of your tongue.’
Then her oncologist shared with her the story of a “unicorn case” in Chicago. Another chef, who had received the same diagnosis, had been cured using only chemotherapy and radiation. However, in order to receive the treatment she would have to travel from her home in California to Chicago.
Chung now had a choice.
“Higher survival rate, or keep my tongue? I chose to keep my tongue, I am a fighter, I am a chef, I can be that unicorn too.”
In her Instagram post, the Top Chef star shared she’s recently completed six weeks of chemotherapy, but still has “many more to go.”
“My tumor is shrinking, my speech is much better and I can eat most normal food now. I am learning to lean on others, to let go, to be more vulnerable,” she wrote. “I am learning, I can be strong 98% of the time, it’s ok to be not ok. I have a tough long road to recovery in front of me. Your love and support will carry me through. Cheer me on, Shirley Chung 2.0 will be reborn in 2025!”
My prayers are with Shirley Chung as she continues to battle tongue cancer.
Please share and send your prayers to Shirley as she continues on her road to recovery.