Shirley Chung, the star of Top Chef,
disclosed on social media that she has been diagnosed with Stage 4 tongue cancer.
The 47-year-old chef, who has had appearances on Tournament of Champions, Top Chef: Amateurs, and
Top Chef (where he was a finalist in Season 11), announced the news on social media on Friday.
She posted multiple images and a video of herself chopping off her hair in
order to be ready for chemotherapy. The chef also disclosed that, as a result
of her treatment, Ms. Chi Cafe, the eatery she founded in Culver City, California,
in 2018, will close the following month. In the footage, a woman could be seen swiping
the clippers twice over her head while making jokes about how much like an egg her head looked.
Shirley is advised that she doesn't need to smile, but she argues that it comes
naturally. Camera? I grinned. "Surprisingly, shaving it off felt better for my
mental health than pulling it off in the morning," she continues. "It's also kind of sexy."
In a lengthy Instagram message, Chung also described how she arrived at her diagnosis.
"Hey, sweethearts, I would like to share some personal news. I have had a lot of dental problems
since December of last year. I bit my tongue a lot, cracked a tooth that needed to be extracted,
and needed an implant. We assumed that was because I ground my teeth a lot, the woman started.
In addition, I was too occupied to visit an EMT expert. My oral surgeon found a hidden tumor
under my tongue when ulcers started to appear in my mouth at the end of May, the patient claimed.
She told her, "A few days later, I was diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer, and cancer
cells had also spread to my lymph nodes." "As a chef, I always perform well
under pressure, so I was very calm when the doctors told me the news," she said.
"I was very focused on completing all of the scans and tests as soon as possible so that I could
begin the treatment plans," the patient stated. "Dr. Ho, my lead oncologist at Cedar Sinai called
to discuss treatment plans," she said, going on to say that on Sunday, June 2nd, she "broke
down, crying, trying to put thoughts together and ask questions but physically couldn't."
"Option 1, surgery, 100% removal of your tongue" was all I heard. Jimmy was trying
to keep us both calm by asking whether there was any way I could hold my tongue
while still having a high survival rate. She was informed, "You will have to travel
to Chicago, but there is another option, which was a unicorn case. At the University
of Chicago, they cured a patient (a chef!) with radiation and chemotherapy."
Better chance of surviving, or hold my peace? She remarked, "I decided to hold my tongue. I am
a chef, a fighter, and I can be that unicorn too." "It's like a full-time job, going to the
hospital four times a week for injections; I just finished six weeks of chemotherapy
(and I have many more to go)," Chung insisted. "I can now eat most regular foods, my speech has
improved, and my tumor is shrinking." She added, "I am learning to be more vulnerable,
to let go, and to rely on others." "It took me two weeks of thinking about telling
my parents about my cancer; up until now, only my sister and my close friends have
known," Chung said in her admission. "I'm growing, I can be resilient 98% of the
time, and it's acceptable to feel bad." My road to recovery is going to be a difficult and lengthy
one. Your affection and encouragement will see me through. "Support me, let me succeed, Shirley
Chung 2.0 will return in 2025!" she declared. In order to concentrate on her therapy, she
also announced via her Ms. Chi Cafe that the restaurant will close the following week.
We have made the tough choice to close Ms. Chi in light of Chef Shirley's illness so she
may concentrate on her recuperation. Sunday, August 4th, will be Ms. Chi's last
day of business, the message said. We sincerely appreciate all of you,
our employees, backers, and admirers. The message went on, "We have genuinely
enjoyed living in Culver City for the past few years and spreading the dumpling love!"
Before we close, please stop by, say hello, and enjoy our cuisine. Until August 4th, we
will continue to conduct business as usual! The last two days for orders placed
with @goldbelly are August 14 and 15, so now is the perfect opportunity to
stock up. "We will be back, but this is a temporary pause on orders," they declared.
The post ended with the message, "Please keep following this account and @chfshirleychung for
more updates—more dumplings will be coming!"