9 months after Shirley Chung introduced that she’d been identified with stage 4 tongue most cancers, the Prime Chef alum gave an replace on her therapy and restoration. She shared selfies exhibiting her progress following the removing of a G-tube, which she had put in in September 2024 amid chemo and radiation remedies.
The system was put in as a result of the “inside [her] mouth and throat had been burnt so severely that ingesting water felt like rubbing salt on [her] uncooked flesh,” Chung defined. She added that it helped her “keep alive” as a result of “medication, water, [and] dietary shakes] had been all fed by means of it over 6 months.”
“I’m therapeutic, and going to remedy to relearn tips on how to swallow and communicate,” Chung shared. “Though I nonetheless have a small a part of my tongue that’s bleeding, however I’m effectively sufficient to eat meds, water, and meals by means of mouth the final 3 weeks. Simply got here again from @cedarssinai after a fast process, the small gap on my abdomen will shut in 3 to five days. I accomplished one other chapter of most cancers combating journey. Nearly there!!”
Chung beforehand competed on Seasons 11 and 14 of Prime Chef, in addition to Prime Chef Duels. She was additionally on Seasons 3, 4, and 5 of Man Fieri‘s Event of Champions on Meals Community, Man’s Grocery Video games, and at present seems on Home of Knives.
The chef acquired her most cancers analysis in Might 2024, 5 months after she started experiencing signs that started with a “collection of dental points.” Nonetheless, she didn’t share the information publicly till two months later, telling her followers, “We thought it was as a result of I’m a heavy tooth grinder,” Chung defined a July 2024 submit. “I used to be too busy to see [an] EMT specialist. The top of Might, ulcers erupted in my mouth and my oral surgeon found a hidden tumor beneath my tongue. Just a few days later, I used to be identified with stage 4 tongue most cancers, as most cancers cells additionally unfold into my lymph nodes.”
She acquired her therapy plans in early June, with the primary possibility being 100% removing of her tongue. Her second possibility was relocating to Chicago from Los Angeles for chemo and radiation. “Increased survival charge, or maintain my tongue? I selected to maintain my tongue,” Chung shared.
On the time of her July submit, she had already accomplished six weeks of chemo. She returned to Los Angeles in December after ending her therapy in Chicago.