Top Chef Alum Shirley Chung Diagnosed with Stage 4 Tongue Cancer: 'I Have a Tough Long Road to Recovery' [View all]

The celebrity chef said she opted to keep her tongue after doctors suggested “100% removal” to increase her survival rate

Shirley Chung revealed that she was diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer.

On July 26, the Top Chef alum, 47, shared the emotional health update on Instagram, explaining that her diagnosis came after a “series of dental issues,” including her severely biting her tongue and fracturing her tooth, which needed to be extracted.

Initially, it was thought her problems were caused by her grinding her teeth.

“The end of May, ulcers erupted in my mouth and my oral surgeon discovered a hidden tumor under my tongue,” she wrote. “A few days later, I was diagnosed, 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 thrived 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.”

This is so awful! She is such a bright shining person. I wish her the best!!


https://people.com/top-chef-alum-shirley-chung-diagnosed-with-stage-4-tongue-cancer-8686273