Actors are considered to be some of the most vulnerable people in society. When they connect with their fans through films or social media, they never shy away from talking about their vulnerabilities and connecting with them on a deeper level. That’s what Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe recently did when she announced that she is battling stage three breast cancer in a moving essay.
The celebrated actor opened up about her diagnosis in a heartfelt essay for People Magazine and her social media accounts, deciding to share her journey with other women who might be going through similar challenges.
In her essay, the Signed, Sealed, Delivered actor noted that she felt something was not right after she noticed a “large mass” in her right breast and got herself checked. Surprisingly, the test results didn’t show anything alarming. However, a couple of months later, the mass was still present there, and it was changing its size.
As a result, she decided to get herself checked again, and this time, she found out that she had Invasive Carcinoma. She wrote, “The mass measured 10 centimeters. This time, my doctor wasn’t so casual; I was rushed for a blind biopsy. After what felt like an eternity, the doctor gently placed his hand on my arm and said, ‘Honey, I can’t be sure, but this feels like cancer.’ Three days later, my G.P. called to say I had Invasive Carcinoma in one of the ducts. I still remember getting off the phone, curling up into a ball, and just bawling.”
Furthermore, she expressed gratitude towards her husband, her family, and all the brilliant people she has worked with who embraced her fully. “When I called Annie Howell at Hallmark to tell her the news, I was terrified. What if I never work again? What if they forget me? But nothing could be further from the truth. Annie and the entire Hallmark family embraced me fully and told me that they had my back,” Lowe wrote.
She hopes to raise awareness about breast cancer and how other women can be more attentive about keeping their health in check. The actor also shared a video on social media after her first chemotherapy session and noted that a “roller coaster” journey had begun. She concluded the essay by letting everyone know that this condition has made her realise how she can turn “poison” into “medicine.” She wrote, “If you’re walking a hard road too, just know, you’re not alone. We may not get to choose what happens to us, but we do get to choose how we meet it. And I’m meeting it — with my sword raised, my heart open, and taking it one step at a time.”
It didn’t take long for the fans and her co-stars to send their good wishes to the actor. Many of her colleagues, including Pascale Hutton and Lacy Chabert, commented on her Instagram post, letting her know that she is not alone in this courageous fight.