The 26-year-old built an audience of more than 1 million by openly documenting treatment, setbacks and daily life with cancer.
LOS ANGELES — Sydney Towle, a TikTok creator who shared an unfiltered account of living with a rare and advanced form of bile duct cancer, died Wednesday, her family announced. She was 26.
Towle’s family confirmed her death Aug. 6 through a post on her Instagram account. The tribute remembered her as a daughter, sister and friend and described her as an “endless ray of sunshine.” Her death came one day after her brother, Austin Towle, said she had entered hospice care. The family did not publicly disclose where she died.
Towle had more than 1.1 million TikTok followers and more than 200,000 Instagram followers. She became known for candid videos about surgeries, chemotherapy, clinical trials and the emotional strain of cancer treatment. Her posts also included travel, fashion, friendships and ordinary moments, reflecting her effort to continue living fully while facing a serious illness.
She was diagnosed at age 23 with stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma, a cancer that develops in the bile ducts. Towle previously said she sought medical care after noticing abdominal discomfort and a bulge that was first suspected to be a hernia. An ultrasound later showed a solid mass, leading to further testing and her diagnosis.
Towle had graduated from Dartmouth College and was living in Los Angeles when her illness was identified. She worked remotely in marketing and had posted lifestyle, dance and fashion videos before cancer treatment became a major part of her online presence. Her diagnosis shifted the focus of her content but did not completely replace the interests and activities she had shared before becoming ill.
As her cancer progressed, Towle spoke openly about pain, treatment decisions and changes in her ability to live independently. In May, she said cancer had spread to the lining of her abdomen and pelvis. The following month, she told followers that her health had worsened and that walking had become difficult, leading her to plan a move into her mother’s home.
She also described seeking another medical team after an oncologist recommended that she stop treatment and move toward end-of-life care. Towle said the recommendation had shocked her and her mother because they expected to discuss a continued treatment plan. She later said another hospital was willing to explore further care.
In one of her final interviews, Towle said she tried to remain strong for her mother, who had become a central source of support during treatment. She also spoke about her desire to show that scars and serious illness did not take away a person’s beauty. That message was reflected in June when she walked in a Miami Swim Week event featuring models affected by cancer.
Towle’s posts frequently mixed difficult medical updates with humor, gratitude and images from her daily life. She said she wanted viewers to understand that a cancer patient could still travel, dress up, celebrate and experience happiness. Her approach drew a large online community, including other young adults with cancer and families supporting loved ones through treatment.
Her family’s announcement prompted thousands of condolence messages from followers and cancer advocates. Many said her openness had helped them feel less isolated and had changed how they viewed life with a serious diagnosis. Her relatives had not announced memorial arrangements as of Thursday afternoon.
Author note: Last updated August 6, 2026.