Sydney Towle, the social media creator who documented her battle with the rare bile duct cancer cholangiocarcinoma, has died at 26.
Her family announced her death on Instagram on 6 August, saying she died the previous day. They described Towle as “an endless ray of sunshine” and remembered her as a daughter, sister and friend.
Her brother Austin Towle also shared a message on TikTok, saying, “She fought really hard, and we’re so proud of her,” while thanking her supporters. Her mother added, “We love you and thank you for all of your kind messages of support and love.”
In a statement to TODAY.com, the family said they were proud of how hard Towle fought and of her decision to share her journey. She wanted to raise awareness of rare cancers and promote self-advocacy, they said, adding that they would continue her legacy.
Towle was diagnosed in 2023 after noticing a lump and burning sensation in her abdomen. Doctors initially suspected a hernia, but later diagnosed cholangiocarcinoma, a cancer affecting the ducts connecting the liver, gallbladder and small intestine.
Five months of chemotherapy and immunotherapy reduced the tumour. Surgery removed most of what remained, but some cancer still lined her liver and doctors monitored it through regular scans.
A later MRI found a lesion that doubled in size within a month. “I don’t think I’ve processed it,” Towle told TODAY.com in 2024. “I’ve kind of disassociated from it.”
After moving to New York City, she worked with new doctors on another treatment plan while continuing to share updates on TikTok.
“I’m bringing light to this,” she said, explaining that sharing both difficult moments and good news helped others feel less alone.
