Shirley Chung of ‘Top Chef’ has stage 4 tongue cancer
Sharing a video on social media in which her hair is getting shaved, Chung wrote that she had some “personal news.”
“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,” she wrote.
The “Top Chef” Season 11 finalist and Season 14 competitor said she was initially “too busy to see a EMT specialist” but later developed ulcers in her mouth and “a hidden tumor” under her tongue.
“A few days later, I was diagnosed, stage 4 tongue cancer, as cancer cells also spread into my lymph nodes,” Chung, 47, wrote. “I was very calm when doctors delivered the news, as a chef, I’ve always thrive under pressure.”
Her treatment options, she wrote, were surgical removal of her tongue or treatment similar to a “unicorn case” of another chef who received radiation and chemotherapy at the University of Chicago.
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 58,000 new cases of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers are diagnosed in the United States each year. About 20% of the cases occur in people younger than 55.
While it meant relocating to Chicago for treatment, Chung said she decided to try it.
“Higher survival rate, or keep my tongue?” she wrote. “I chose to keep my tongue, I am a fighter, I am a chef, I can be that unicorn too.”
Chung said she’s already completed six weeks of chemo with more to go. She ended her post on a hopeful note.
“Your love and support will carry me through,” she wrote. “Cheer me on, Shirley Chung 2.0 will be reborn in 2025!”
After revealing her diagnosis of stage 4 tongue cancer, Chung explored various treatment options, including entertainment to distract herself during her recovery.
Despite the challenges, Chung found solace in watching movies and TV shows, viewing entertainment as a form of escapism and relaxation during her challenging journey.
