Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe revealed that she has been diagnosed with stage three breast cancer and has reflected on her emotional health journey.
The 44-year-old actress – who is known for appearing in Hallmark’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered franchise – penned a personal essay for People published on Friday to get candid about her recent health battle.
Lowe began her acting career in the late 90s and before her time with the Hallmark channel, she also appeared in a number of horror movies including Final Destination 3 and Black Christmas.
The Canadian-born star opened up the essay by sharing that she has often had a ‘love-hate relationship’ with her body over the years – which began early on in her career when she was a model for publications such as Maxim.
The mom-of-two admitted that she will ‘still check in’ with the mirror – which was also the start of her health battle.
Earlier this year in February, Lowe explained that she had been getting ready one day and ‘noticed a large mass in my right breast.’
Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe, 44, has revealed that she has been diagnosed with stage three breast cancer and has reflected on her emotional health journey
The actress – who is known for appearing in Hallmark’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered franchise – penned a personal essay for People published on Friday to get candid about her recent health battle; seen above in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To The Alter
She initially brushed it aside and assumed it could be an injury from working out, but still went to see a doctor.
But after undergoing both a mammogram and ultrasound, nothing was found.
The mass in her right breast never went away and would eventually move as well as alter in size.
‘I didn’t feel any pain, but my nipple became inverted, so I went back to the doctor,’ Lower wrote. ‘The mass measured 10 centimeters. This time, my doctor wasn’t so casual; I was rushed for a blind biopsy.’
Just days after undergoing tests, the actress received a call from her doctor who informed her that she had ‘Invasive Carcinoma in one of the ducts.’
Lowe emotionally reacted to the news and recalled, ‘I still remember getting off the phone, curling up into a ball, and just bawling.’
Her husband ‘gracefully gave me that space to process,’ and was soon joined by one of her kids who was dressed in a Spider-Man outfit. ‘They say it’s laughter, but our children really are the best medicine,’ she said.
At first, the actress believed she was at stage two – but in August it was revealed that she had stage three Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.
Just days after undergoing tests, the actress received a call from her doctor who informed her that she had ‘Invasive Carcinoma in one of the ducts; seen in June in L.A.
Lowe explained that she ‘never had any major illness’ so the cancer diagnosis ‘was a lot to digest’; seen (right) with Carol Burnett in Signed, Sealed, Delivered in 2014
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) is the most common form of breast cancer and occurs when ‘the cancer has spread into surrounding breast tissues,’ per BreastCancer.org.
‘Ductal means the cancer started in the milk ducts’ and ‘Carcinoma refers to any cancer that begins in the skin or other tissues that cover the lining of internal organs, such as breast tissue.’
Lowe explained that she ‘never had any major illness’ so the cancer diagnosis ‘was a lot to digest.’
‘I went on social media, desperate to find other women like me,’ she said and expressed why she also decided to openly reveal her healthy journey in an essay for People.
‘Hearing other people’s stories and absorbing their amazing tips, like asking for ice chips or a bag of saline when you go in for chemo, has helped more than I can say.’
Lowe also gave a special shout out to her ‘Hallmark family’ who ’embraced me fully, and told me that they had my back.’
She later added, ‘Hollywood often gets a bad rap, but when you work with people who love you, they show up.’
The actress has since started chemotherapy treatments to help shrink the tumor and is focusing on a healthy diet to aid in recovery.
She later added, ‘Hollywood often gets a bad rap, but when you work with people who love you, they show up’; seen far right in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Vows We Have Made
She also shared a clip to her main Instagram page on Friday to reveal the diagnosis and encouraged her followers to get checked
‘This journey has been scary, strange, and humbling. It has stripped me down in ways I never saw coming, physically, emotionally and spiritually.’
Lowe continued, ‘And yet… I promise to persevere. To turn poison into medicine. To grow. That’s what I’m learning every single day.’
She also shared a clip to her main Instagram page on Friday to reveal the diagnosis and encouraged her followers to get checked.
‘This is the beginning, not the end,’ Lowe expressed. ‘And the roller coaster has just started.’
The actress began her career in the entertainment industry in the late 90s when she played a minor role in a 1997 episode of Stargate SG-1.
Lowe has additionally stepped behind the camera to direct projects such as This Time Each Year (2024) and Eat, Pray, Lie (2025)
She went on to star in horror movies such as Children Of The Corn: Revelation, Final Destination 3, Black Christmas and Wrong Turn 2: Dead End.
In 2013, she was cast as Rita Haywith in the Hallmark series Signed, Sealed, Delivered – which has since spawned a number of television films.
Earlier this year, she reprised the role of Rita in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To The Moon And Back.
Lowe has additionally stepped behind the camera to direct projects such as This Time Each Year (2024) and Eat, Pray, Lie (2025).
