Hallmark’s Crystal Lowe Bravely Details Next Steps in Her Cancer Fight
As longtime Hallmark star Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe bravely battles stage three breast cancer, the actress and director has recevied an outpouring of love from fans and co-stars, including a visit from her “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” bestie Kristin Booth. All that love is coming in handy as she prepares for the next steops in her fight.
Lowe began chemotherapy in October and still has eight more weekly infusions left to go, she shared in a social media video on December 5, 2025. She said she’d just received a date for her double mastectomy surgery and was still processing all the information she received from her surgeon.
“Yesterday I went to see my plastic surgeon,” she wrote in her caption, “and we had a good lengthy talk about saving nipples, expanders, and size that I’ll be aiming for. Apparently once the expanders are in they look super weird and lumpy at first so I’ve been told not to freak out. Then over the next couple weeks we fill them to see what size works and how much my skin will allow. I have to get radiation so this is my best option. Good lord…8 more taxol then my next phase begins ❤️”
Crystal Lowe Explains Decisions Around Mastectomy, Including Whether to ‘Save a Nipple’
Lowe, who first revealed her cancer diagnosis in October, shared that she’ll undergo her bilateral mastectomy on February 19, after completing four months of chemotherapy, noting that at her appointment with her surgeon, “We had a lot of good conversation. To save a nipple, to not save a nipple?”
Depending on multiple factors, some mastectomy surgeries require that the entire breast be removed, according to BreastCancer.org, but others keep “some or all of the breast skin, the nipple, and the areola intact.” In her video, Lowe said that she had opted to have a double mastectomy rather than just removing the side with cancer, hoping that it will reduce the chances of cancer returning in the other breast.
“I don’t want to go through this again, even though (recurrence is) still possible,” she said. “At least removing them both, to me, means it’s less of a chance. Not just that, but for my plastic surgeon to have (the) possibility of making everything look symmetrical. And, you know, we talked about saving a nipple, not saving a nipple, and will it look weird, is it going to be lopsided?”
“I’m nervous,” Lowe admitted at the end of her video. “But excited. But nervous.”
Hallmark Stars & Fans Continue to Shower Crystal Lowe With Love: ‘You Are a Warrior’
Lowe’s fans and Hallmark colleagues have showered her with love, and were thrilled to see Booth spending a long weekend with her, including attending her fourth chemo infusion on December 1. The two have co-starred in Hallmark’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” franchise for over a decade.
Kat Barrell, who stars in “The Christmas Baby” on December 21 and whom Lowe directed in “Shifting Gears,” remarked, “Awwwww love to see you two together !!!!”
Torrance Coombs sweetly replied on Lowe’s December 5 video, “Sending love Crystal. Thank you for sharing this journey with us 💙”
Alison Sweeney, whom Lowe has directed in her “Hannah Swensen Mysteries,” left three red heart emoji and prolific Hallmark screenwriter Nina Weinman Swift commented, “Here for you, my friend, during recovery. Whatever you need! ❤️”
Meanwhile, fans have also flooded Lowe’s posts with love, including one who wrote, “Thank you for continuing to share your journey. It sounds like you have some excellent medical professionals working with you and providing all the information you need to make these decisions. Sending love and hugs to you!”
“You are a warrior,” another wrote. “And you are loved. Continued prayers for you, dearest @officialcrystallowe ❤️”
To one fan who appeared to share they are facing similar surgery decisions, Lowe honestly replied, “🙈
To one fan who appeared to share they are facing similar surgery decisions, Lowe honestly replied, “🙈 so exciting and scary. And weird….like wtf. How did this all happen”
