Shirley Chung has revealed she has been diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer after initially confusing her symptoms with "heavy" teeth grinding.
The chef, who appeared on season 11 of Top Chef , took to Instagram to share the devastating news with her followers. Shirley posted a video of herself shaving her hair and explained how doctors discovered the illness in December after a series of dental issues.
She wrote: "I had a series of dental issues, 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. 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.
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"A few days later, I was diagnosed, stage 4 tongue cancer, as cancer cells also spread into my lymph nodes." Shirley admitted she had been "very calm" when doctors gave her the diagnosis, crediting her career as a chef to helping her deal with pressure.
"I was extremely focused on getting all the tests and scans as fast as possible, so I can start on the treatment plans," she continued. However, when her doctor called her on June 2 to discuss her treatment options, Shirley "broke down, crying."
She explained: "All I heard was 'option 1, surgery, 100% removal of your tongue' … Jimmy was holding it together for both of us, asking if we have any option that I can keep my tongue and the survival rates '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' Higher survival rate, or keep my tongue?
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"I chose to keep my tongue, I am a fighter, I am a chef, I can be that unicorn too." Shirley has now finished six weeks of chemotherapy, but still has a long way to go.
She told fans: "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 ….. 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!"
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