Shirley Chung, who appeared as a finalist on two seasons of Bravo’s hit cooking show “Top Chef,” has revealed that she was diagnosed with Stage 4 tongue cancer and is currently undergoing treatment.
Chung, 47, took to Instagram on July 26 to share her health update, writing that she first began experiencing dental issues last December.
Toward the end of May, Chung said, she also experienced a bout of mouth ulcers, leading her oral surgeon to discover a “hidden tumor” underneath her tongue. The chef received her diagnosis days later, with doctors informing her that the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes.
“I was very calm when doctors delivered the news,” she wrote. “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.”
Chung said she was overcome with emotion the following month while speaking with her lead oncologist about her treatment plans.
“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 said.
Her husband, Jimmy Lee, inquired about the chances of survival if she decided to keep her tongue.
‘Long Road to Recovery’
Chung, who was born and raised in Beijing, immigrated to the United States when she was 17 years old, according to her online biography.After briefly pursuing a career in tech in Northern California’s Silicon Valley, Chung enrolled at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, where she studied classic French and Italian cuisine. She went on to helm restaurants with several leading chefs, including Thomas Keller, Mario Batali, Guy Savoy, and José Andrés.
In 2013, Chung appeared on season 11 of “Top Chef,” becoming the chef-partner of Twenty Eight Restaurant and Bar in Irvine, California, the following year. She was also a finalist on season 14 of Bravo’s popular cooking competition series, which premiered in December 2016.
Alongside her emotional health update, Chung shared a carousel of photos and a video of her shaving off her hair. In the caption, she noted that she had just finished six weeks of chemotherapy and had “many more to go.”
“Going to the hospital 4 times a week for injections, it’s like a full time job. My tumor is shrinking, my speech is much better and I can eat most normal food now. I am learning to lean on others, to let go, to be more vulnerable,” she said.
“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. 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!”
In an ensuing Instagram post, the “Top Chef” alum revealed that she and her husband had made the difficult decision to close their Culver City, California-based restaurant, Ms. Chi Cafe. The fast-casual Chinese American restaurant, which opened in October 2018, will conclude operations on Aug. 4, so Chung can focus on her recovery.
