The young woman, followed by 1.1 million followers on TikTok, was diagnosed in 2023 with cholangiocarcinoma, an aggressive and uncommon cancer for someone her age. Her condition worsened in May. The family: “Proud of how you fought”

Mourning in the TikTok community: Sydney Towle, the influencer who was diagnosed in 2023 with an aggressive bile duct cancer and who had documented her battle with the disease online, has died at just 26. The family announced the news through her social media profiles.

“We will always love you so much, Sydney. We are so proud of how tenaciously you fought. We love you,” reads the caption on the photo shared a few hours ago.

Towle, who had more than 1.1 million followers on TikTok alone, told People magazine that she was diagnosed with the cancer when she was 23 after seeking medical attention for a large swelling protruding from her abdomen. She said it is “extremely rare” for someone her age to receive a diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma. From that point she documented her daily life, including surgeries, numerous clinical trials and chemotherapy. Her condition deteriorated in May when she learned the cancer had further spread to the peritoneum.

On August 4, Sydney’s brother, Austin Towle, posted a photo on TikTok to announce that his sister had been admitted to a palliative care center. The image showed family and friends gathered around her hospital bed. “Sydney has been transferred to a palliative care center and is surrounded by her friends and family. Thank you all for your love and support,” Austin wrote, followed by the tragic outcome.