Influencer Sydney Towle, 26, has publicly addressed online comments suggesting she has only "days left" amid her ongoing battle with a rare bile duct cancer.
Towle, who has been documenting her journey with cholangiocarcinoma for three years, shared in a TikTok video on Sunday that such speculative remarks are difficult to process. "I won't lie, the comments sometimes really get to me when I see them saying like, 'She has days left,' or just sad things like that," she said. "It's hard to read stuff like that about yourself. And I did have a moment today where I kind of freaked out because of some of the things people were saying."
Despite the emotional toll, Towle asserted her refusal to let negativity diminish her hope. "Ultimately, it's my life, and if I believe that things will work out and be good, that's my choice, even if that doesn't happen to be true," she stated. "Nobody knows what's going to happen and miracles happen every day and things change constantly."
Towle was diagnosed with bile duct cancer in August 2023 at age 23, after a significant mass was discovered in her stomach. Bile duct cancer, or cholangiocarcinoma, is an aggressive form that originates in the bile ducts and is more commonly diagnosed in individuals over 50. Towle's tumor was linked to a genetic mutation.
Supporters have rallied around Towle following her latest update. Comments on her social media included messages of encouragement such as "Never stop the positive thinking! That is the right attitude" and "Not a single one of us is guaranteed next week, or even tomorrow. That's what people tend to forget, sending you all the good vibes."
Last week, Towle shared a candid update about the constant pain associated with her illness, noting in a Substack post that her prescribed pain medication was insufficient. Her comments came weeks after her oncologist indicated he would no longer treat her and suggested transitioning to end-of-life care, a recommendation Towle rejected.
She is currently participating in a clinical trial for tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy.
