Top Chef Alum Shirley Chung Reveals Stage 4 Cancer Diagnosis: "I Am a Fighter"

After being diagnosed with Stage 4 tongue cancer, Shirley Chung was presented with two treatment options: She could take the less common route of chemotherapy and radiation or the more effective route of removing her tongue entirely. Shirley chose the former.

The Top Chef alum recalled the dilemma in a July 26 Instagram post in which she publicly announced her diagnosis. Shirley, who appeared in Top Chef: New Orleans (Season 11, 2013) and Top Chef: Charleston (Season 14, 2016), said she learned about her cancer nearly two months ago after a series of dental issues that were initially attributed to her teeth grinding.

“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 in the lengthy post. “And I was too busy to see a EMT specialist. 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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Shirley Chung "broke down" when presented with cancer treatment options

Shirley in Top Chef Season 14. Photo: Tommy Garcia/Bravo

Shirley said she remained “very calm” when she received the news and was focused on tackling the disease as soon as possible; however, she became dispirited shortly after.

“Sunday June 2^nd, Dr. Ho, my lead oncologist at Cedar Sinai called to discuss treatment plans,” she said. “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.’”

Shirley said her husband, Jimmy Lee, kept his composure during the appointment and asked if there were alternative treatments that would allow Shirley to keep her tongue. 

“‘There is another option, which was a unicorn case, at University of Chicago,’” the doctor told the couple. “‘They cured a patient (a chef!) with radiation and chemo, but you will have to go to 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.”

Shirley Chung is seeing improvement after six weeks of chemo

On July 26, Shirley confirmed she had completed six weeks of chemotherapy and had “many more to go.” Although the experience has been far from easy, the chef said she's seen improvements in her health and overall mindset.

“My tumor is shrinking, my speech is much better and I can eat most normal food now,” she wrote. “I am 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.”

She continued: “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!”

Shirley Chung closes her Culver City restaurant to focus on her health

The post included photos of Shirley sitting in Ms Chi Cafe, a Chinese restaurant she owns and operates in Culver City, California. The carousel showed the chef shaving her head with the help of Jimmy, who also shaved his locks in an act of support and solidarity.

On Thursday (July 26) afternoon, the couple announced they were closing Ms Chi in early August so they could put all the energy into Shirley’s recovery.

“We are incredibly grateful to each and every one of you—our staff, supporters, and fans,” they wrote. “We have truly enjoyed spreading the dumpling love over the last several years and calling Culver City our home!”