Sydney Towle’s family has shared that the 26-year-old TikTok creator has entered hospice care following nearly three years of treatment for stage 4 bile duct cancer.
Her brother, Austin Towle, announced the change on August 4th in a TikTok post featuring a photograph of Sydney surrounded by relatives and friends.
The family thanked the online community that has followed Sydney’s treatment since she was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma at age 23. She has documented her hospital stays, chemotherapy and clinical-trial treatment for more than 1.1 million TikTok followers.
The hospice announcement followed months of difficult medical updates, including the discovery of tumors in her lungs and further growth in her liver.
Austin Towle Shared the Hospice Update on TikTok
“Sydney has been moved to hospice and is surrounded by her friends and family,” Austin wrote over the photograph. “Thank you all for your love and support.” Austin repeated the family’s appreciation in the caption, writing, “Thank you all so much. Your love and support does not go unnoticed.”
PEOPLE reported that the announcement came after Sydney spent months sharing updates as she prepared for another phase of a clinical trial involving tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy.
Sydney Documented Nearly Three Years of Cancer Treatment
Sydney was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare cancer affecting the bile ducts, at age 23. She used TikTok and Instagram to discuss chemotherapy, hospitalizations, medical procedures and the emotional strain of receiving changing information about her condition.
On April 29th, doctors removed part of one of her tumors as the first stage of the clinical trial. Immune cells collected from the tumor were then isolated and grown in a laboratory for potential use in her treatment.
In June, Sydney said doctors had discovered tumors in her lungs and that existing tumors in her liver had grown. She nevertheless said the clinical-trial team planned to proceed with a three- to four-week hospitalization for the next phase of treatment, according to PEOPLE’s June report.
She Sought Another Opinion After an End-of-Life Care Recommendation
Sydney previously said an oncologist had declined to continue treating her and recommended that she transition to end-of-life care. She rejected that recommendation, changed hospitals and continued exploring available treatment options.
“We are not at the point where we’re giving up,” she said in a May TikTok video. A new specialist later reviewed her scans and cleared her to travel to Florida.
On May 28th, Sydney opened the main stage during Miami Swim Week in The Chemo Club x Post Swim show. She modeled swimwear designed for post-cancer bodies alongside three other women who were undergoing treatment or had previously received cancer treatment.
Sydney Continued Speaking Publicly About Hope
@sydtowle♬ original sound – syd
“Why would I not envision the best-case scenario, the best way of things working out?” she said in one video. “The alternative is to not do that and to just be sad.”
Sydney acknowledged that comments speculating about her prognosis could be difficult to read, but said she did not want them to take away her hope. “Miracles happen every day,” she said. “Nobody knows for sure what’s gonna happen.”