Shirley Chung is reflecting on her treatment journey after being diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer on May 30, 2024
The Top Chef alum said no cancer was detected and she is now in 100% remission after her latest scan
While celebrating the milestone, she thanked those who checked on her and helped with “digging me out when I was depressed”
Nearly a year after her stage 4 tongue cancer diagnosis, Shirley Chung is officially in remission!
On May 7, the Top Chef alum, 48, revealed on Instagram she’s cancer-free, sharing the exciting health update alongside a series of photos celebrating the milestone.
“Introducing Shirley Chung 2.0 !! ✌️💪,” she wrote in the caption. “11 months ago, May 30th 2024, I was diagnosed with stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma tongue cancer. The tumor was hidden on the bottom left of my tongue, and it was progressing so aggressively that in less than 1 week of the diagnosis, it took over almost my entire tongue.”
“Since 100% removal of my tongue was not an option for me as a chef, I moved to Chicago, started radiation + chemo treatments in @uchicago under Dr Vokes and Dr.Juloori’s care,” she continued. “I completed 9 weeks, 27 chemos, then 10 weeks 50 radiation and 24 hour chemo drip.💛My first 3 month scans came back 98% cleared, only 2 of my left lymph nodes had cancer cells. I just completed my 6 month scans, I can proudly say, no cancer cell was detected in my body, I am in 100% Remission!! 🦄.”
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Shirley Chung/Instagram
Chef Shirley Chung with her doctors at the University of Chicago Department of Medicine
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Chung said that she is still healing, learning to speak again and starting to have solid food two meals a day. The Food Network star said she’ll have to continue getting tests and scans for two years and then she will be “officially cured.”
“But I am feeling great, and can’t wait to get back to life! 🔥In my cancer journey, so many of you reaching out, checking on me, digging me out when I was depressed.❤️Your love, your prayers, your support carried me forward, helped me heal, helped me always see the light. 🐦🔥2.0 is stronger because I am powered by all of your love 💕”
“Sincerely Thank You from the bottom of my heart.💜” she ended the post. “I will share details of my fighting journey in the next few weeks, and I hope it will help other cancer warriors, it’s time for me to pay it forward 🥰.”
Shirley Chung/Instagram
Chef Shirley Chung celebrating that her cancer is in remission
Chung has been documenting her tongue cancer journey on social media over the past year.
Back in October 2024, the Tournament of Champions star revealed that she had a feeding tube after completing two weeks of radiation and chemotherapy treatment.
“My mouth, tongue and throat are peeling because of radiation, so after 1 week of treatment, my pain was so bad that drinking water felt like pouring salt on my raw flesh,” she said. “So I chose to install Gtube, feeding tube on my stomach, so I can get all the nutrients and meds through it, without torturing my mouth.”
“It was a hard decision to be make, but I felt so blessed that my doctor push me to do it,” she added.
Chung then described the physical toll that her tongue cancer has taken on her. “I was losing weight too rapidly, 10 pounds in 10 days. I ended up stay in the hospital for 2 weeks for the surgery, also figure out the best solution for my pain control,” she wrote.
Thankfully, Chung said she felt “much stronger” after getting her “new shining weapon G-Tube,” which allowed her to maintain her weight.
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