Influencer Sydney Towle Shares an Emotional Update on Her Cancer Journey

The 25-year-old internet personality received her diagnosis after noticing a lump in her abdomen during a run a couple of years back. She has been on chemo, but now her doctors have told her it's not looking "good."

Sydney Towle has been documenting her cancer journey on her social media platforms since receiving her diagnosis in May 2023. The Dartmouth graduate was jogging when she noticed a large bump protruding from her abdomen.

Towle hadn't suffered major health issues before and wasn't experiencing any other symptoms at the time. So, returned home and did some research, and found that the lump might be an exercise-induced hernia.

Soon after, however, she started feeling a burning sensation in the affected area, which compromised her mobility—even during light activity. "It got to the point where I couldn't even go on walks anymore," she told People during an interview in May.

She then visited an urgent care facility to get checked out. She was later diagnosed with bile duct cancer, medically known as cholangiocarcinoma. This type of cancer typically affects people over the age of 50 with a certain history of health issues.

Therefore, Towle's case was considered "extremely rare." She began treatment, which has included chemotherapy and surgery over the past two years. However, she shared a troubling update on her progress on Wednesday, June 18.

In the video update, she appears visibly emotional and teary-eyed. "Okay, so I'm obviously not at chemo," she began. "It's the first time that I've gone in and they've said, 'This isn't good.' It's obviously not what you want to hear when you have cancer."

She then shared that she will be getting a hepatic pump—a "medical device used to deliver chemotherapy directly to the liver", according to UPenn Medicine. The device is surgically implanted and scheduled to be placed at the end of the month, on June 30.

"I didn't talk about it because I was scared this was going to happen. I was supposed to go on a trip and leave June 30, so I just canceled the trip. Hopefully I'll still get to take it one day," Towle continued.

After the hepatic pump is placed, she said she will begin a new form of chemotherapy, which she described as experimental. She went on to heartbreakingly reflect on how this is not the life she imagined for herself—but she's doing her best to stay positive.