Shirley Chung, who was a finalist on season 11 of the Bravo reality cooking show Top Chef and went on to compete on Tournament of Champions and Top Chef: Amateurs, announced on Friday that she has been diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer.
Chung Diagnosed With Stage 4 Tongue Cancer
Chung, 47, took to Instagram to share photos and video of her shaving her head in preparation for her chemotherapy treatments. In the caption, Chung wrote that she had been diagnosed with “stage 4 tongue cancer, as cancer cells also spread into my lymph nodes.”
“I was very calm when doctors delivered the news, as a chef, I’ve always thrive under pressure,” Chung wrote. “I was extremely focused on getting all the tests and scans as fast as possible, so I can start on the treatment plans.”
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While this would be a devastating option for anyone, it was particularly horrific for a chef who relies on her taste buds to make a living. That’s why Chung and her husband Jimmy asked if there was “any option that I can keep my tongue and the survival rates.”
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‘There Is Another Option…’
“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,” the oncologist told them.
“Higher survival rate, or keep my tongue?” Chung added. “I chose to keep my tongue, I am a fighter, I am a chef, I can be that unicorn too.”
Chung went on to say that she has completed six weeks of chemotherapy and still has many more ahead of her. So far, the treatments appear to be working.
“My tumor is shrinking, my speech is much better and I can eat most normal food now,” Chung wrote. She added that she is “learning to lean on others, to let go, to be more vulnerable ….. it took me 2 weeks of contemplating to decide to tell my parents about my cancer, only my close circle of friends and my sister have known until now.”
“I am learning, I can be strong 98% of the time, it’s ok to be not ok,” she concluded. “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!”
Check out Chung in happier times in the video below.
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Chung Closes Her Restaurant
Sadly, Chung and her husband also announced that they will be closing their restaurant Ms. Chi Cafe in Culver City, California so that she can focus on her cancer battle.
“In light of Chef Shirley’s diagnosis, we have made the difficult decision to close Ms Chi so she can focus on recovery,” they wrote on Instagram. “Ms Chi’s last day of operation will be Sunday, August 4th,” the post began.
“We are incredibly grateful to each and every one of you—our staff, supporters, and fans,” they added. “We have truly enjoyed spreading the dumpling love over the last several years and calling Culver City our home!”
This is clearly a very difficult time for Chung and her entire family. Please join us in saying a prayer for her as she continues her cancer battle!
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