Social media star Sydney Towle has died aged 26 after a three-year battle with a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Towle, who amassed more than one million followers on TikTok, documented her cancer journey online, sharing the realities of chemotherapy, surgeries and life as a young person living with the disease.
Her family confirmed her death on social media, saying Towle died from complications related to cholangiocarcinoma — a rare bile duct cancer that had spread to other parts of her body.
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“Syd went peacefully last night after an almost three-year-long battle with cholangiocarcinoma,” her brother Austin said, alongside their mother, in a video shared on TikTok.
Towle was diagnosed with the disease at just 23 years old.
Towle, who amassed more than one million followers on TikTok, documented her cancer journey online. Credit: Instagram Over the following years, she underwent multiple surgeries, several forms of chemotherapy and participated in clinical trials as her illness progressed.
Earlier this week, Towle was moved to hospice care.
The US influencer had been living in New York City at the time of her death.
“We are so proud of how hard Sydney fought and for sharing her journey with so many people,” her family said.
“She wanted to raise awareness for rare cancers and was passionate about promoting self-advocacy.
“We will continue her legacy and honour her in every way we can.”
Speaking to People magazine in May 2025, Towle recalled first seeking medical attention after noticing a large lump protruding from her abdomen.
She said it was “extremely rare” for someone her age to be diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma.
“I don’t fit any of the demographic factors,” she told the US media outlet.
Cholangiocarcinoma is cancer of the gallbladder or bile ducts.
The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ located in the upper abdomen next to the liver. The role of the gallbladder is to store fluid called bile.
The liver produces bile to help digest and absorb fats in the small bowel (or small intestine). Bile duct cancer affects the tubes that transport the bile produced by the liver into the small intestine.
It is a rare form of cancer that affects approximately 1300 Australians each year.
Almost two out of three people with cholangiocarcinoma are aged 65 or older when it is found.
Sydney’s family shared a message on social media to announce her tragic passing. Credit: TikTok In a tribute posted on her Instagram, Towle’s family described her as “an endless ray of sunshine”.
“A daughter, sister and friend to so many,” they wrote.
Followers also paid tribute, praising Towle’s courage and resilience, and saying she had left behind an incredible legacy through her openness and advocacy.