“Flip or Flop” star Tarek El Moussa is winning his battle with cancer — but on Thursday he shared a startling photo of himself to display just how difficult that battle could be.
El Moussa, who in the past was diagnosed with both thyroid and testicular cancer, took to Instagram to post the photo, which he ultimately hopes will serve as inspiration to others.
“I thought I would share this with everyone… to truly understand how absolutely sick I was… look at this photo and look at my eyes, I was a skeleton,” El Moussa wrote.
El Moussa, who’s currently undergoing a divorce from his wife and “Flip or Flop” costar Christina El Moussa, continued, “This took a major toll on my physical and mental health. I know many of my fans have had similar struggles and can relate. The last 3 years were the hardest of my life, I look back and still wonder how I survived… I never quit although I wanted to, thousands of times all day every day.”
El Moussa went on to recall how his illnesses caused his weight to fluctuate 60 pounds.
“This is from hurting my back after battling 2 cancers.. I had a 60 pound weight swing from my illnesses,” El Moussa wrote. “I’m proud to say I didn’t quit and I’m in the best shape of my life!!”
“For everyone struggling right now from any situation.. remember… keep your head up and don’t quit! There is light at the end of the tunnel, stay strong!” the post concluded.
El Moussa was diagnosed with thyroid cancer after a registered nurse emailed the show’s production company in 2013 to suggest that Moussa get a medical checkup for a large nodule on his thyroid.
In February, El Moussa told “Today” that, a month after he was told that he had thyroid cancer, he was also diagnosed with testicular cancer.
“Getting the thyroid cancer is hard enough, and then a few weeks later finding out I had testicular cancer, I literally thought I was going to die,” El Moussa said.
In January, El Moussa gave fans an update on his condition, writing on Instagram that he was still free of the illness.
“Still #cancer #free!!!! Having cancer is a very scary thing… I always get nervous going into each check up and today I got GREAT news!!” El Moussa wrote.