Christophe Bariou Recalls Being Told He Had Only "Weeks To Live" After Rare Cancer Diagnosis

Christophe Bariou is revisiting one of the most difficult chapters of his life. After recently reposting on TikTok a deeply personal Instagram post from 2023, Nadine Lustre's longtime boyfriend reflected on how surviving a rare type of lymphoma changed his perspective on life, purpose, and the causes he wants to stand for.

In the post, Christophe reflected on his 2020 lymphoma diagnosis, a type of blood cancer that affects the body's infection-fighting cells. He admitted that he initially didn't want to share his story, writing, "I preferred not to be seen as the victim or to use this illness to appeal for pity."

But over time, he realized that his cancer journey had become an important part of who he is today.

"About three years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer and I was told I only had a few weeks left to live," he wrote in the original post.

"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.

At that point, Christophe admitted that he felt scared and nearly gave up. He even considered moving to Siargao and spending whatever time he had left there. But just when things seemed uncertain, doctors in France offered him a possible treatment for his condition.

Thankfully, he was able to receive the treatment in Europe free of charge. And after months of recovery, Christophe found himself getting a second chance at life—one that he now wants to live with more intention. "When it comes to advocacies, it was a brutal reminder that life is fleeting. We do not have the luxury to wander and be mindless. I want to be mindful and conscious in every action," he shared.

That experience also shaped the causes he continues to advocate for today. "Our lives are way too precious to be wasted. In the same breath, other lives are too sacred to be robbed from them, too," he said. ICYDK, Christophe started his vegan journey in 2022 alongside Nadine. He has also partnered with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to speak against animal cruelty.

Christophe has been open about how his love and compassion for animals became the biggest reason behind his decision to go vegan. In a 2023 Instagram post, he shared that while people may choose a plant-based lifestyle for different reasons, it was his connection with animals that made the change meaningful.

"Frankly, there are only good reasons to choose non-violence and go vegan. You can do it for your health, budget, or the environment, but in the end, what makes it a lifelong change and motivation is the love and compassion we all feel for animals," he wrote.

However, he also emphasized that his advocacy is not about forcing people to make the same choice. Instead, he believes it's about understanding where people come from. "This is not our fault; we were raised and blinded every day to believe it is something acceptable to do and taught to bury deep down what we felt when we were a child, that this is wrong and unfair," he added.

Nadine shares a similar approach when talking about veganism. The actress has also been open about her transition to a plant-based diet while acknowledging that adjusting took time.

In a 2024 interview, she shared that she started eating plant-based in August 2022, and the lifestyle gradually became part of her everyday choices.

"It wasn't difficult. I think, I would say in the first few weeks of it was very challenging, just because parang inaaral mo pa, e. Where to buy your food, what meals you can cook, especially for someone like me who's always out and about, who's always on the go," she said.

The couple also took their shared advocacy further when they announced the launch of their plant-based milk brand Dehusk in October 2024. Since then, the brand has partnered with different cafés and beverage businesses.

Through their shared advocacies and lifestyle choices, Christophe and Nadine continue to show how much they align with each other. It's no surprise that Nadine herself sees him as her endgame. And as they continue growing together, fans can only look forward to the beautiful things that may come from their love.