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Top Chef Alum Shirley Chung Shares What’s Next in Her Stage 4 Tongue Cancer Treatment Journey
The chef opened up about her treatment plan after recently revealing the diagnosis.
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After publicly revealing her Stage 4 tongue cancer diagnosis, Shirley Chung is opening up about her treatment journey.
The Top Chef alum, who was a finalist on Season 11 (and also ended up competing on Season 14), shared that her doctor advised her to gain some weight before beginning her radiation treatments.
"I am back to my normal weight, but [the] Dr. said I should gain at least 10 more pounds to be ready for radiation," Shirley wrote in an Instagram Story, per People, after undergoing six weeks of chemotherapy.
As Shirley has previously shared, she is opting to do chemotherapy and radiation rather than lose her tongue.
Shirley Chung's throat cancer diagnosis
On July 26, the chef confirmed her health diagnosis on Instagram. In the caption of her post, she said that she has been dealing with a "series of dental issues" since December 2023. She initially assumed that those issues had occurred because she is a "heavy teeth grinder."
Five months later, in May 2024. she said that "ulcers erupted in [her] mouth."
"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," she continued in her post. "I was very calm when doctors delivered the news, as a chef, I’ve always thrive under pressure. I was extremely focused on getting all the tests and scans as fast as possible, so I can start on the treatment plans."
On June 2, Shirley's oncologist contacted her to talk about treatment plans. Her first option was "100% removal" of her tongue. Her second option was to try to be a "unicorn patient," and go to the University of Chicago for radiation and chemotherapy.
"Higher survival rate, or keep my tongue?" Shirley wrote. "I chose to keep my tongue, I am a fighter, I am a chef, I can be that unicorn too."
At the time of her post, Shirley had just finished six weeks of chemo, though she noted that she has "many more to go." She noted that her treatment plan felt "like a full-time job." However, she shared that she was already feeling better.
"My tumor is shrinking, my speech is much better and I can eat most normal food now," she continued. "I am learning to lean on others, to let go, to be more vulnerable ….. it took me [two] 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. 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!"
