Top Chef Alum Shirley Chung Says She Has to Gain 10 Lbs. Before Radiation for Stage 4 Tongue Cancer

Shirley Chung is preparing her body for radiation treatment to fight her cancer.

On August 12, the Top Chef alum, 47, posted a selfie on Instagram Stories and shared that she’s back to her “normal weight” since being diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer and undergoing six weeks of chemotherapy.

“I am back to my normal weight, but Dr. said I should gain at least 10 more pounds to be ready for radiation,” she wrote. 

The celebrity chef previously said she would be trying to treat her cancer despite receiving a harsh prognosis.

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Chung, a finalist on season 11 of Top Chef who also competed in season 14, first revealed her diagnosis on July 26 with an emotional Instagram post of her shaving her head. 

“The end of May, ulcers erupted in my mouth and my oral surgeon discovered a hidden tumor under my tongue,” she wrote. “A few days later, I was diagnosed, stage 4 tongue cancer, as cancer cells also spread into my lymph nodes.”

Chung said that on June 2 she met with lead oncologist Dr. Allen Ho at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to discuss her treatment plan. 

“I broke down, crying, trying to put thoughts together and ask questions but physically couldn’t, all I heard was ‘option 1, surgery, 100% removal of your tongue,’” she recalled. “[My husband] Jimmy was holding it together for both of us, asking if we have any option that I can keep my tongue and the survival rates.” 

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Doctors told Chung about a “unicorn case” at the University of Chicago where they were able to “cure” a patient through radiation and chemotherapy.

“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,” she said at the time. “I just finished 6 weeks of Chemo (and have many more to go), going to the hospital 4 times a week for injections, it’s like a full time job. 

The Bravo star said that her tumor is shrinking but admitted that she’s trying to be more vulnerable because she has a long and difficult journey ahead.

“I am learning, I can be strong 98% of the time, it’s ok to be not ok. I have a tough long road to recovery in front of me. Your love and support will carry me through,” she said. “Cheer me on, Shirley Chung 2.0 will be reborn in 2025!”