Top Chef Alam Shirley Chung has been diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer sharing the news via social media on Friday July 26 Chung 47 detailed receiving the diagnosis after an oral surgeon found a hidden tumor under her tongue in May since last year December 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 Chun who was a finalist on season 11 of Top Chef which premiered in 2013 wrote via Instagram 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 the heartbreaking post also included a video and several photos of the reality TV star shaving off her hair as friends and family stood by her Chung who also competed in season 14 of the reality cooking show which premiered in 2016 explained that her time in the kitchen helped her to process the shocking news calmly I was very calm when doctors delivered the news she wrote as a chef I've always Thrive sick Under Pressure I was extremely focused on getting all the tests and scans as fast as possible Chung also known as The Dumpling queen of Los Angeles then detailed how the gravity of the situation sunk in when Dr Allan ho the lead oncologist at Cedar Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles phoned her to discuss treatment plans on June 2nd