Top Chef Reveals Stage 4 Cancer Diagnosis
Chef Shirley Chung, who is best known as a contestant and later a judge on the show “Top Chef,” recently shared some heartbreaking news about her health.
In an Instagram post on July 26, 2024, Chung posted a video and several pictures where she shaves her head. In the caption, she explains why she’s shaving her head. She has cancer.
Chung went into details about what type of cancer she has and how she was diagnosed. The type of cancer she has is probably the worst type of cancer a chef could get – tongue cancer.
Chung explained that she started having “dental issues” in December 2023. For example, she bit her tongue and fractured a tooth. She brushed off the problems assuming it was because she grinds her teeth, but then, things got worse in May.
The chef wrote, “The end of May, ulcers erupted in my mouth and my oral surgeon discovered a hidden tumor under my tongue. A few days later, I was diagnosed, stage 4 tongue cancer, as cancer cells also spread into my lymph nodes.”
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While Chung managed to keep her cool when she received the diagnosis, that was not the case when she heard the treatment options. She wrote, “Sunday June 2nd, Dr. Ho, my lead oncologist at Cedar Sinai called to discuss treatment plans. 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.'”
That’s right, Chung’s doctor recommended removing her tongue. That thought was unimaginably painful for her especially as a chef. Thankfully there was another option.
Chung’s doctor told her, “There is another option, which was a unicorn case, at University of Chicago, they cured a patient (a chef!) with radiation and chemo, but you will have to go to Chicago.”
Chung had a big decision to make, but for her, it was actually an easy one. She explained, “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.”
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Things are looking up for Chung. She wrote, “I just finished 6 weeks of Chemo (and have many more to go), going to the hospital 4 times a week for injections, it’s like a full time job. My tumor is shrinking, my speech is much better and I can eat most normal food now.”
Until this Instagram post, very few people knew about Chung’s diagnosis. She waited two weeks before even telling her parents.
She finished her post by writing, “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!”
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