At 23, Sydney Towle was living a bright, full life—until she felt a lump after a run and heard the words: “likely carcinoma, multiple enhancing masses.” What followed was a diagnosis of Stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer usually found in people decades older. Sydney started sharing her journey online to stay connected and hopeful +  quickly became a viral TikTok star with over 4 million followers. But as her story spread, the internet turned cruel. Reddit forums accused her of faking cancer. Brands distanced themselves. Strangers sent death threats. She survived the viral campaign against her and is opening up about the emotional, physical, and spiritual lessons she’s learned while living with indefinite chemo and facing life’s biggest questions. Sydney shares:
Receiving her rare cancer diagnosis alone in a parking lot.
How she knew it was cancer before she was diagnosed + her advice for others.
Why she chose to share her story on TikTok
Surviving a viral hate campaign of people on the internet accusing her of “faking cancer”
The mental battle of pretending to be “just a normal 25-year-old” while living with a rare  cancer
Dating while in chemo + redefining love 
The mantras that keep her going.
Why she no longer believes “everything happens for a reason” but still believes in kindness, empathy, and intuition.
Using humor and disassociation to cope with cancer treatment
Fertility preservation and cancer 
How friendships change +  who shows up when life gets hard
Finding hope when there is no finish line in sight
Life lessons at 25: what really matters when time feels stolen.

Follow Sydney’s journey on TikTok + Instagram

Book Recommendation: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

At 23, Sydney Towle was living a bright, full life&mdash;until she felt a lump after a run and heard the words: &ldquo;likely carcinoma, multiple enhancing masses.&rdquo; What followed was a diagnosis of Stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer usually found in people decades older. Sydney started sharing her journey online to stay connected and hopeful +&nbsp; quickly became a viral TikTok star with over 4 million followers. But as her story spread, the internet turned cruel. Reddit forums accused her of faking cancer. Brands distanced themselves. Strangers sent death threats. She survived the viral campaign against her and is opening up about the emotional, physical, and spiritual lessons she&rsquo;s learned while living with indefinite chemo and facing life&rsquo;s biggest questions. Sydney shares:
<ul>
<li>Receiving her rare cancer diagnosis alone in a parking lot.</li>
<li>How she knew it was cancer before she was diagnosed + her advice for others.</li>
<li>Why she chose to share her story on TikTok</li>
<li>Surviving a viral hate campaign of people on the internet accusing her of &ldquo;faking cancer&rdquo;</li>
<li>The mental battle of pretending to be &ldquo;just a normal 25-year-old&rdquo; while living with a rare&nbsp; cancer</li>
<li>Dating while in chemo + redefining love&nbsp;</li>
<li>The mantras that keep her going.</li>
<li>Why she no longer believes &ldquo;everything happens for a reason&rdquo; but still believes in kindness, empathy, and intuition.</li>
<li>Using humor and disassociation to cope with cancer treatment</li>
<li>Fertility preservation and cancer&nbsp;</li>
<li>How friendships change +&nbsp; who shows up when life gets hard</li>
<li>Finding hope when there is no finish line in sight</li>
<li>Life lessons at 25: what really matters when time feels stolen.</li>
</ul>
Follow Sydney&rsquo;s journey on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@sydtowle?lang=en">TikTok</a> + <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sydneytowle/?hl=en">Instagram</a>
Book Recommendation: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Behind every headline is a person + a deeper story. Question Everything with journalist Danielle Robay cuts through social media buzz to uncover the voices, ideas, and cultural moments that shape how we see the world. Each week, she asks bold questions that challenge assumptions and reveal the nuance behind the narratives, inviting you to look closer at the world, and at yourself. Because there's always more to the story.
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Danielle is also the creator of the bestselling QUESTION EVERYTHING card game series, which has sparked connection and conversation in thousands of living rooms around the world. She's also the co-executive producer (alongside Reese Witherspoon) and host of Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club. With her signature curiosity—dubbed "The Queen of Questions"—and a background in political science, Danielle brings both heart and rigor to every conversation. A Gloria Steinem Fellow and mentee of Larry King, she's carried forward a legacy of curiosity and connection, interviewing icons from Taylor Swift to Malala Yousafzai in more than 8,000 hours of elevated conversation.

QUESTION EVERYTHING

Too Young for Cancer: Sydney Towle on Fighting for Her Life at 25

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e52db6b8-fe5b-4fb7-aa74-b39a00f7950c/transcript

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