NEW YORK CITY — TikTok creator Sydney Towle died at age 26 from complications of metastatic cholangiocarcinoma, also known as bile duct cancer. Her family announced her death on Thursday via social media.

She entered hospice care earlier in the week of her death announcement while living in New York City. She had moved to New York City in fall 2024 for treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

The diagnosis came after she experienced a bulge and burning sensation in her abdomen. “The doctor thought I had a hernia, but he was like, ‘I’ll send you in for an ultrasound, just in case.’ I got an ultrasound, and it showed a solid mass,” she said. Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare cancer most often diagnosed in adults over age 50.

She was first diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma in 2022 at age 23. She received a stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma diagnosis in 2023. During that year, she worked at a remote-office marketing job in Los Angeles.

Her medical treatment included surgery to remove her gall bladder and part of her liver. Doctors also implanted a hepatic artery pump. The cancer eventually spread to her lungs, stomach, and peritoneum.

On May 19, she posted a video stating her oncologist recommended end-of-life care. Despite the prognosis, she continued public appearances. She spoke onstage at the Business of Beauty Global Forum 2025 on June 10, 2025, in Napa, California.

In June 2025, she walked the runway for Post Swim and The Chemo Club show during Miami Swim Week. She wore adaptive designs tailored for post-cancer bodies and surgical scars during the appearance. “I have only recently started seeing the resilience and beauty in this body. Scars that remind me of how far I've come. And I'm reminded that dreams only end when you allow them to,” she said.

She used her platform to address misconceptions about illness visibility. She had 1.1 million followers on TikTok and over 200,000 followers on Instagram. “I’m not a television show that you’re watching, which I think people have a really hard time understanding. I’m not a fake character. I’m a person,” she said. She also noted the difficulty of social interactions during treatment, asking, “How do you make small talk about what you’ve been up to when what you’ve been up to is going to chemotherapy?” She addressed criticism regarding her presentation of cancer. “I’m sorry that they are so angry that living with cancer can look different than they think it should,” she said. She emphasized finding value in daily experiences, advising followers to “Go get a pint of Ben and Jerry’s, watch your favorite movie, remember that life is good and bad things happen sometimes but that doesn’t make it a bad life.” In March 2025, she wrote, “Rich in life because my friends choose to spend a Saturday fundraising for cancer research.”

Melinda Bachini, chief patient officer of the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, commented on her approach. “Syd had a keen sense of how sharing her life could help others, and she used that to promote understanding of young adults facing cancer, the importance of research funding and the beauty of living life in the moment,” Bachini said.

She was born on November 15, 1999. She graduated from Dartmouth College in 2022 with majors in government and environmental studies. Her father, Philip Towle, died in 2016.

She is survived by her mother, Elizabeth Morrow, and her brother, Austin Towle. Her family stated, “We will always love you so much Sydney. I am so proud of how hard you fought. I love you.” She reflected on her move to New York, saying, “I’ve always wanted to live in New York City and life is short, as I’m constantly reminded.” She also shared, “I was just thinking about that quote: ‘How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.’”

Her death shows the impact of cholangiocarcinoma on younger demographics, a disease typically associated with older adults. Her documentation of the illness provided visibility for young adult cancer patients who often face stereotypes about how their condition should appear. By sharing her treatment journey, including surgical scars and adaptive clothing choices, she challenged public perceptions of cancer visibility.

Her advocacy extended to promoting research funding and humanizing the patient experience beyond clinical outcomes. Her large social media following allowed her to reach a broad audience with messages about resilience and quality of life. Her public statements and runway appearances demonstrated an effort to maintain personal identity and professional activity despite a terminal prognosis.

Why It Matters

Her death at age 26 shows the impact of cholangiocarcinoma on younger demographics, a disease typically diagnosed in adults over 50. Her public documentation of the illness provided visibility for young adults facing cancer and challenged misconceptions about how patients should present during treatment. By sharing her experience with over one million TikTok followers, she promoted understanding of research funding needs and the reality of living with terminal illness.