TikTok influencer Sydney Towle dies at 26 after inspiring battle with rare cancer
Sydney Towle, known for her work as an influencer on TikTok, passed away at the age of 26 after a period of battling an aggressive form of cancer.
News of his death was released on Sydney Towle’s official social media pages on August 6, 2026, one day after his death was confirmed.
“We will always love you very much, Sydney. I am very proud of how bravely you fought. I love you”, said the message shared on her profile, expressing the affection of her family.
The post, which reported Towle’s passing on August 5, 2026, showed a photo of her posing on a mountain peak, accompanied by the words: “Rest in peace, Sydney Elizabeth Towle. An endless ray of sunshine. A daughter, sister and friend to many.”
Austin Towle, the influencer’s older brother, replicated the same tribute on his own TikTok account, describing her as “the best sister ever.”
On August 4, 2026, Austin had already made a post on TikTok to inform that his sister had been transferred to palliative care. The image showed family and friends gathered around her hospital bed, with the text: “Sydney has been transferred to hospice and is surrounded by her friends and family. Thank you everyone for your love and support❤️.”
Sydney Towle was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare type of bile duct cancer, at age 23. The condition, which predominantly affects people over the age of 50, presented itself to Towle at an unusual stage of life. Over the course of three years, she chronicled her journey with the disease for more than 1 million followers on TikTok, undergoing multiple surgeries, clinical trials and multiple cycles of chemotherapy as her cancer progressed.
In May 2026, the influencer published videos in the hospital, accompanied by her mother, while receiving treatment for pain and other complications from the disease. On May 17, 2026, Sydney discovered that the cancer had spread to the peritoneum, the membrane that lines the abdomen and pelvis, according to information from the Cleveland Clinic.
Two days later, Towle recorded himself with his mother, narrating a conversation with his doctor about the evolution of cholangiocarcinoma. The content creator reported that her oncologist refused to continue treatment and advised her to begin end-of-life care.
Faced with the suggestion, Towle decided to seek a second opinion and changed specialists. At the time, she was in between phases of a clinical trial involving tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy, a treatment she planned to pursue.
“I was definitely in complete shock because, as my mom and I had said in that video I made afterwards, we were never told that this was the path we were taking,” she said. “No one had ever mentioned palliative care or end-of-life care. So upon hearing that, we were hoping to have a conversation that morning about my treatment plan.”
A few days after the doctor refused to treat her, Sydney traveled to Florida to participate in Miami Swim Week. There, she paraded in swimwear designed for post-cancer bodies, in the Chemo Club x Post Swim fashion show, alongside three other women undergoing treatment or who have already overcome the disease, promoting a message of self-acceptance and empowerment.
“I struggled a lot with a post-surgery body, especially having this hepatic artery pump placed in my stomach, which is very evident when I’m in a bathing suit,” Towle reported before the event. “Being able to model for a swimwear brand that empowers women to embrace those scars is so inspiring and makes me even more proud of the body I have that has sustained me through so many trials.”
Towle’s health showed a steady decline in the months leading up to his death. In June 2025, the influencer shared an emotional update on TikTok, revealing that, for the first time, her medical team had expressly said the situation was “not good” when discussing her condition. “Which is obviously not what you want to hear when you have cancer,” he added.
The timing of the surgical intervention forced her to cancel a planned trip, and she expressed increasing difficulty in maintaining a positive attitude. “My life is simply not what I imagined it would be,” she said through tears.
In May 2025, Towle had already spoken, addressing her initial diagnosis, which occurred after she noticed a large swelling in her abdomen. She mentioned that it is “extremely rare” for someone her age to be diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, stating, “I don’t fit into any of the demographics.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, the disease manifests itself in the thin ducts that transport digestive bile, with symptoms such as abdominal pain, fatigue, fever and night sweats. It predominantly affects individuals over 50 years of age.
Her TikTok and Instagram videos have racked up millions of views throughout her health journey. In an interview, she recounted how connecting with and helping others gave her “purpose” amid the challenging experience.
“What really kept me going are people who message me or even approach me and say, ‘You helped me a lot,'” said the late influencer. “Just knowing that being vulnerable and real about cancer is making a difference — that was huge for me.”
