26-Year Old TikTok Creator Sydney Towle’s Cancer Journey

Sydney Towle, a TikTok content creator who was known for sharing her journey with a rare form of cancer has passed away at age 26. At the time, she was being treated at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

Her mother and brother released an announcement on her TikTok account the next day, confirming that she passed away on August 5, 2026. According to them, Towle was “always so positive” and “spread happiness wherever she went”.

Towle was diagnosed with stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma, an aggressive type of bile duct cancer, in August 2023. Since then, she underwent almost 50 rounds of chemotherapy, as well as multiple surgeries.

While cholangiocarcinoma is considered a rare cancer, recent advances in diagnostic capabilities have contributed to a global increase in incidence and mortality rates. Cholangiocarcinoma tumors usually develop unnoticed, with minimal symptoms in the early stages. By the time they are detected, it can be too late for surgery, and may require palliative care.

When she was first diagnosed at age 23, Towle had already established a presence on social media, sharing about her everyday life – including her hobbies, surfing and running. After her diagnosis, she began posting about the realities of her cancer treatment while still staying positive and keeping up with her hobbies.

Some of her videos showcased how she managed the side-effects of her treatments, including fatigue and difficulty eating. Others showed how she tried to live life as normal as possible – including running in preparation for a marathon, and attending Coachella in April 2026.

In August 2026, she had over 1.1 million followers on TikTok, with thousands of comments expressing strong support for Towle’s journey and her persistently positive attitude.

Earlier in 2026, Towle also modelled for the Miami Swim Week runway for the first time. The event was organized as a collaboration between The Chemo Club, a cancer support community, and Post Swim, a swimwear company focused on post-surgery and scar-friendly swimwear, and aimed to honor those who have survived and are still facing cancer.

Notably, Towle still attended the event after her oncologist suggested that she switch to end-of-life care, which she refused at the time.

Towle regularly advocated for cholangiocarcinoma research funding, raising over $10,000 for the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. She also announced plans to run the 2026 New York City Marathon in November to raise money for the organization.

According to Towle, “Hope keeps us alive, it keeps us going, it makes the impossible seem possible.”