TOP Chef alum Shirley Chung has revealed she was diagnosed with stage four tongue cancer in May.
Shirley, 47, shared the emotional health update with her Instagram followers on 26 July.
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“Hiiiii loves, I have some personal news to share with you,” she wrote, alongside videos and photographs of Shirley shaving off her hair.
In the caption, Shirley explained the diagnosis was made after she “had a series of dental issues” including biting her tongue “severely” and fracturing her tooth.
“The end of May, ulcers erupted in my mouth and my oral surgeon discovered a hidden tumor in my mouth,” Shirley, who first appeared on Top Chef season 11, wrote.
She was diagnosed with stage four tongue cancer after it was determined the cancer had “spread into my lymph nodes.”
Shirley credited her training as a chef as the reason “I was very calm when doctors delivered the news” but ultimately “broke down” when her oncologist laid out her treatment plans.
“All I heard was ‘option 1, surgery, 100% removal of your tongue.'”
She said her husband Jimmy Lee “was holding it together for both of us, asking if we have any option that I can keep my tongue and the survival rates.”
She became determined not to have the surgery after her oncologist told her about a “unicorn case” at the University of Chicago – a chef who was cured with a combination of radiation and chemotherapy.
“Higher survival rate or keep my tongue?” Shirley summarized the choice she had to make. “I chose to keep my tongue, I am a fighter, I am a chef, I can be that unicorn too.”
In a heartening update, Shirley shared “my tumor is shrinking, my speech is much better, and I can eat most normal food” after six weeks of chemotherapy in Chicago.
She also explained her decision to share the diagnosis publicly, adding, “I’m learning to lean on others, to let go, to be more vulnerable.”
Shirley admitted it took her two weeks to tell her parents about the diagnosis and that “only my close circle of friends and my sister have known until now.”
Shirley’s fans and friends expressed their support for the TV personality in the comments section of her post, with one person writing, “Cancer doesn’t have a chance on this unicorn.”
Top Chef star Gregory Gourdet commented, “You are so strong and gorgeous. You have the spirit of a fighter. See you when you kick this things ass! Love you!!”
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“You are inspiring and strong [heart emoji],” wrote Next Level Chef judge Richard Blais.
“We met you the day before you received you treatment plan…..but we had no clue about the battle you were fighting,” Kardea Brown, the host of Delicious Miss Brown, wrote.
The Food Network show host continued, “You cooked for us that night and had the biggest smile on your face the entire time… Shirley that speaks volumes about your character!
“We are praying for you and thanking God in advance for remission and total healing! We lo
ve you [heart emoji].”
She asked fans to “cheer me on” as she walks a “tough, long road to recovery”, adding, “Shirley Chung 2.0 will be reborn in 2025!”
TOP CHEF
The same day, Shirley and Jim announced they have made the “difficult decision” to close their restaurant in light of the diagnosis, in an Instagram post.
“We are incredibly grateful to each and every one of you,” the couple captioned their post, adding Ms Chi’s last day of operation will be August 4.
Shirley finished in third place on season 11 of Bravo’s Top Chef.
She returned to the show in season 14 as Shirley faced off against winner Brooke Williamson in the finals.
In 2022, she joined the Food Network’s Tournament of Champions hosted by Guy Fiery.
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