Nadine Lustre's boyfriend, Filipino-French businessman Christophe Bariou, got candid about his journey battling cancer, recently.

In a lengthy TikTok post, Christophe revealed he's been dealing with cancer for three years now, admitting that he kept his condition a secret for a long time because he did not want others to pity him.

"This was something I never thought I'd share at all on social media. Maybe I never did because I preferred not to be seen as the victim, or to use this illness to appeal for pity," he began.

"And while I was successfully overcoming it, I saw many around me losing their lives trying to, so it didn't feel right to talk about myself," he added.

Christophe recalled the time when he was diagnosed with cancer.

"I was told I only had a few weeks left to live. I experienced the darkest sensation of fear, which is something I thought I had already known, because it wasn't the first time I was in a life-threatening situation," he said.

"But this was different. The enemy was invisible and deep inside my own body — a body that I never doubted before," he added.

Christophe said that it frightened him to think he might never get the chance to become a father.

"There is no shame in acknowledging I was scared, but I was also angry and frustrated at life. I thought, I'll never have kids, my own family, or finish what I started in Siargao. I will never get my first barrel surf," he said.

Things took a turn when he learned that he might have a chance if he flew back to France and try a specialized approach.

"While trying my best to accept my fate between fear, anxiety, anger, and frustration, I learned from other doctors that there was a chance to heal, but I had to drop everything, leave immediately, and go back to France to a specialized hospital," he shared.

Christophe said that while there, he was diagnosed with a rare type of lymphoma. Doctors could not tell him his exact chances of survival, but they started a six-month treatment plan.

"Not only was I lucky enough to benefit from the best treatments available from the leading cancer research center in Europe, but all of this was completely free of charge, thanks to the rights the French fought for," he said.

Instead of six months, he achieved full remission after just two months of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

According to Christophe, an animal rights advocate and a supporter of a plant-based lifestyle, he has come to value life even more after what he went through.

"I wanted to get back on my feet as fast as possible and continue everything I started, but with more intention and even more motivation,” he said.

Christophe said that his true life purpose became clearer to him.

“It was a brutal reminder that life is fleeting. We do not have the luxury of wandering and being mindless. I want to be mindful and conscious in every action. The best I can do is to lessen the suffering and cruelty around me, and promote kindness and compassion towards all forms of life – human and non-human," he said.

He continued, “Our lives are way too precious to be wasted. In the same breath, other lives are too sacred to be robbed from them, too."

As he concluded his message, he thanked the people who served as pillars of support during the most difficult phase of his life.

"I can never thank enough everyone who supported me during these tough times – my partner at the time, my family and my friends."