Famed Chef Has Tongue Cancer, Is Keeping Her Tongue

Top Chef star Shirley Chung was given a choice after being diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer: Remove her tongue entirely or undergo radiation and chemotherapy, a treatment plan with a lower survival rate. "Higher survival rate, or keep my tongue? I chose to keep my tongue, I am a fighter, I am a chef, I can be that unicorn too," the Beijing-born chef and restaurateur wrote in an Instagram post announcing her diagnosis. That "unicorn" she's referring to is fellow chef Grant Achatz, who was also told he should have his tongue removed when he was diagnosed with oral cancer in more than 16 years ago, but found a doctor who was willing to try radiation and chemo—and it worked.

Chung, 47, explained in her post that since December, she'd been having oral issues—"severely" biting her tongue, fracturing a tooth, and more problems she chalked up to being a "heavy teeth grinder." But when ulcers erupted in her mouth in May, her oral surgeon found a tumor under her tongue, and ultimately it was discovered that the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. Chung says she's already started treatment and is determined to fight, and NBC News and People report her post was met with a massive outpouring of support. Chung appeared in seasons 11 and 14 of Top Chef, finishing in third place and then second place. (More Top Chef stories.)