Shirley Chung, best known for appearing on “Top Chef,” revealed that she’s been diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer.
Chung — who reached the final on Season 14 of the hit cooking competition — said doctors found a “hidden tumor” under her tongue in May.
“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 on Instagram.
“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,” Chung, 47, added.
The emotional post also featured a series of photos of Chung shaving her hair as her loved ones surrounded her.
Chung, who also competed on season 11 of “Top Chef,” said that cooking has helped her to process the news calmly.
“I was very calm when doctors delivered the news,” she wrote. “As a chef, I’ve always thrive [sic] under pressure. I was extremely focused on getting all the tests and scans as fast as possible.”
Chung said the gravitas of the diagnosis finally hit home when Dr. Allen Ho, the lead oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles, walked her through treatment options at the start of June.
“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,” she recalled, crediting her husband Jimmy, for “holding it together for both of us.”
She was told that her condition could be tackled through radiation and chemotherapy treatment thanks to a “unicorn case” from the University of Chicago.
“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,” she wrote.
Chung, who’s now six weeks into her chemotherapy, said her treatment process is a “full-time job.”
Still, she’s thankful that the tumor is “shrinking,” and she’s able to “eat most normal food now.”
“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,” she concluded her post.
It wasn’t long before fellow “Top Chef” stars rushed to the comments section to shower Chung with messages of support.
Gregory Gourdet, former finalist on the 12th and 17th seasons of the hit show, wrote, “You are so strong and gorgeous. You have the spirit of a fighter. See you when you kick this things ass! Love you!!”
Meanwhile, Alex Guarnaschelli, who appeared on “Iron Chef,” added, “Sending you so much love. Don’t be a chef at this time. Be a person who’s cool with getting support and love. You are loved all around you. Sending you positive vibes. Very brave of you to share with us.”
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