Sydney Towle, an American social media content creator known for her candid and optimistic documentation of life with a rare and aggressive form of cancer, has died at the age of 26. Towle’s family confirmed her passing on August 5 after nearly three years of battling cholangiocarcinoma, a cancer affecting the bile ducts.
Towle was diagnosed with the illness in August 2023. Following her death, her mother, Elizabeth Morrow, and brother, Austin Towle, shared a video on her TikTok account, where she had amassed over one million followers. “Syd went peacefully last night after an almost three-year long battle with cholangiocarcinoma,” her brother said. “She fought really hard, and we’re so proud of her, and we thank all of you for your support over the years.” Morrow added that the family appreciated the outpouring of messages and assured that Towle “will not be forgotten.”
Born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, on November 15, 1999, Towle was raised in Hobe Sound, Florida. She passed away at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Prior to her diagnosis, Towle had already built a following by sharing videos of her daily life, including footage from the beach and outdoor activities such as surfing and running.
After her diagnosis at age 23, Towle’s social media content shifted to openly depicting her experience with the disease and treatments, balancing medical updates with scenes of her maintaining a positive outlook and pursuing her favorite activities. In a video posted shortly after learning of her illness, she remarked, “I’m in good spirits, I’m smiling. If anything, it just makes me appreciate life more.” This approach resonated with many, as hundreds of thousands engaged with her posts that mixed moments from hospital visits with those of travel and social outings.
Towle graduated from Dartmouth College in 2022 with studies in government and environmental studies. She worked as a social media manager at Epic Games. Towle also used her platform to raise awareness and funds for the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, having raised over $10,000 for the organization. Before her passing, she had planned to participate in the 2026 New York City Marathon to support the foundation’s research and patient resources.
Her mother, who has advocated for increased research funding on behalf of her daughter, described Towle as “a beacon of hope for so many.” In a column earlier this year, Morrow highlighted how her daughter’s openness had helped others facing their own challenges. Towle is survived by her mother and brother; her father, Philip Towle, died in 2016.