Shirley Chung, Top Chef Contestant, Reveals Stage 4 Tongue Cancer Diagnosis
Isabella Strahan, after completing chemotherapy for brain cancer, has recently undergone another surgery.
Shirley Chung has received some challenging news.
The Top Chef alum revealed that she has been diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer, discovered after doctors found a tumor under her tongue in May. This diagnosis followed a series of dental issues that began in December.
“I remained calm when the doctors shared the news,” Shirley shared on Instagram July 26. “As a chef, I have always thrived under pressure. I was focused on getting all the necessary tests and scans quickly to start the treatment plans.”
However, Shirley faced a tough decision in her health journey: She could opt for tongue removal surgery or undergo a more experimental treatment in Chicago involving radiation and chemotherapy to eliminate the cancer. This approach had proven successful in a rare case before.
“Higher survival rate, or keep my tongue?” she pondered. “I chose to keep my tongue. I am a fighter, I am a chef, and I can also be that rare success story.”