Influencer Sydney Towle, who defiantly walked the runway at Miami Swim Week just weeks after doctors advised her to seek end-of-life care, has disclosed that she is in excruciating pain.
The 26-year-old content creator participated in The Chemo Club x Post Swim runway event on May 28 after receiving a rare bile duct cancer diagnosis three years prior.
Even though she called the experience a “dream come true,” Towle has talked about the reality of going through the event after moving back to New York City.
Even if the trip wasn’t good for her health, Towle informed her one million followers on TikTok that she doesn’t want to stop doing “things that are fun.”
“I haven’t been showing it because I’ve been trying to enjoy the week as much as possible, but I’ve been in a lot of pain, and I’m still really sick,” she remarked.
“If you see a video of me in the hospital, it’s just because I feel safer there sometimes when I’m in pain,” Towle added. “Regardless of if I had gone or not, I would be in pain and nauseous,” she said, adding that although she intends to visit urgent care for additional medical assistance, performing the catwalk wouldn’t have made her less pain-free.
After Miami Swim Week, Sydney Towle disclosed that she is in a great deal of discomfort.
The 26-year-old content creator participated in the Chemo Club x Post Swim runway event on May 28. She has an aggressive form of cancer.
“That’s just the way things are right now.”
As Towle considered how much Swim Week meant to her, she started to cry.
She declared, “I don’t want to stop doing things that are fun.” All I truly wanted was to enjoy myself with my friends, and I succeeded in doing so. So, thank you very much.
The influencer stated in a video, “I said no. We are not at the point where we’re giving up.” Towle’s participation in the event occurred just weeks after her doctor informed her that he would no longer treat her and that he wanted her to transition to end-of-life care.
Following Towle’s post-Miami Swim Week debrief, social media followers came together in support of her.
One person said, “I think that trip was great for your mental health.” “That’s also crucial.”
Another expressed a similar opinion, saying, “My oncologist tells me to go live my life.” When you can, take a nap and live your life. I’m sending prayers.
“In a recent video, Towle stated, “I’ve been in a lot of pain, and I’m still extremely nauseous.”
“People don’t understand that you can’t always wait until there’s a good time or a good day to do things,” added a third. Towle, who declined end-of-life care just weeks ago, stated she doesn’t want to stop doing things “that are fun.” “Not everyone has the luxury of living in the present moment.”
Early in August 2023, Towle was diagnosed with bile duct cancer at the age of 23 after medical professionals found a “sizable mass” in her stomach that had been growing for four months.
Cholangiocarcinoma, another name for bile duct cancer, is an aggressive form of cancer that begins in the bile ducts.
Although it can affect people of all ages, adults over 50 are more likely to receive a diagnosis.
Towle, whose tumor was caused by a genetic mutation, acknowledged in November 2024 that dealing with the unknown has been the most difficult part of her journey. “It’s tough for me to plan for the future at all or expect anything when everything is so fragile around my diagnosis and treatment,” she said. “It’s also really hard to plan in the short term, like dinners or going out with friends, when I don’t know how I’ll feel physically or emotionally on a given day.”
“I can’t plan my bucket list or any fun trips while receiving treatment and not knowing where surgery will take me, but there are so many things I want to do now that I don’t know how much longer I have.”
