'Top Chef' star Shirley Chan reveals she's been diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer and hopes for a miracle after refusing doctors' advice to 'completely remove' her tongue
“Top Chef” star Shirley Chan revealed on social media that she has been diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer.
The 47-year-old chef, who has appeared on “Top Chef” (where he was a finalist in Season 11), “Tournament of Champions” and “Top Chef: Amateurs,” announced the news on social media on Friday.
She shared a video and several photos of her shaving her hair in preparation for chemotherapy.
The chef also announced that his restaurant Ms. Chi Cafe, which he opened in Culver City, California in 2018, will close next month to allow time for treatment.
In the video, she can be seen giving her head two big cuts with clippers, joking that her head looks like an egg.
“Top Chef” star Shirley Chan revealed on social media that she has been diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer.
The chef also announced that his restaurant, Ms. Chi Cafe, which he opened in Culver City, California in 2018, will close next month to allow time for his treatment.
Even when people tell her, “Shirley, you don't have to laugh,” she insists, “That's unconscious. The camera? I'll laugh.”
She added: “Surprisingly, mentally shaving…feels better than shaving in the morning,” and “it's kind of sexy, too.”
Chung also explained how she arrived at her diagnosis in a lengthy Instagram caption.
“Hi everyone. I just wanted to share some personal news with you. Since December of last year I've been having trouble with my teeth, biting my tongue so badly and breaking my teeth that I've had to get them extracted and implants put in…we thought it was because I grind my teeth so badly,” she began.
“I was so busy trying to get to the emergency room specialist that at the end of May I developed an ulcer in my mouth and an oral surgeon discovered a tumour hidden under my tongue,” she said.
“A few days later, I was diagnosed with stage four tongue cancer. The cancer cells had spread to my lymph nodes,” she told a friend.
“When I heard the news from the doctor, I was very calm. As a chef, I have always thrived under pressure,” she admitted.
“I was very focused on getting all the tests and scans as soon as possible so I could start a treatment plan,” she said.
“Shirley, you don't have to laugh,” she was told, but she insisted, “It happens automatically. The camera? I'll laugh.”
She added: “Surprisingly, mentally shaving…feels better than shaving in the morning,” and “it's sexy, too.”
“I was too busy to see an emergency medicine specialist. At the end of May I developed an ulcer in my mouth and an oral surgeon discovered a tumour hidden under my tongue,” she said.
“When I heard the news from the doctor, I was very calm. As a chef, I have always thrived under pressure,” she admitted.
She continued, “Dr. Ho, my physician at Cedars-Sinai Hospital, called me on Sunday, June 2, to discuss my treatment plan,” adding, “I broke down in tears and tried to gather my thoughts and ask questions but was physically unable to.”
“All I heard was 'Option 1, surgery, 100% removal of tongue'…Jimmy reassured us both and asked if there was an option to keep the tongue and what the survival rate was.”
She was told, “There is another option. It's a unicorn case. At the University of Chicago, we cured a patient (a chef!) with radiation and chemotherapy. But you have to go to Chicago.”
“Increase your chances of survival or keep quiet? I choose to keep quiet. I'm a warrior, I'm a chef, and I can be that unicorn too,” she said.
“I've just finished six weeks of chemotherapy (and still have a lot to go) but I'm still going to the hospital four times a week for injections – it's like a full-time job,” Chong claimed.
“The tumour is getting smaller, I can speak much better and can now eat most normal foods. I am learning to rely on others, to let go and to be more vulnerable,” she continued.
“I thought about it for two weeks before deciding to tell my parents about my cancer. Until now, only my close friends and my sister knew,” Chung confessed.
“I am learning. 98% of the time I will stay strong. It's ok to not be ok. The road to recovery is long and hard. Your love and support will keep me going. Please support me. Shirley Chan 2.0 will be reborn in 2025!” she concluded.
She continued, “Dr. Ho, my chief oncologist at Cedars-Sinai, called me on Sunday, June 2, to discuss my treatment plan,” adding, “I broke down in tears and tried to gather my thoughts and ask questions but was physically unable to.”
She was told, “There is another option. It's a unicorn case. At the University of Chicago, we cured a patient (a chef!) with radiation and chemotherapy. But you have to go to Chicago.”
She also shared a post from Ms. Chi Cafe announcing that the restaurant will be closing next week to focus on her treatment.
“In light of Chef Shirley's diagnosis, we have made the difficult decision to close Ms. Chi's so that she can focus on her recovery. Ms. Chi's last day of business will be Sunday, August 4th,” the post began.
“A huge thank you to each and every one of our staff, supporters and fans. We've really enjoyed spreading the gyoza love and calling Culver City home these past few years!” the post continued.
“Please stop by, say hello, and enjoy our menu before we close. We'll be open regular hours until August 4th! August 14th & 15th are the last days to order @goldbelly so now is your chance to stock up. Orders are temporarily paused but will resume soon!” they continued.
“Please continue to follow this account and @chfshirleychung for future updates. More dumplings to come!” the post concluded.
