Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe, 44, is a longtime actor and director known for Final Destination 3, The L Word, and Hallmark’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered series. A wife and mother of two, she became the first graduate of Hallmark’s Make Her Mark directing program and has since directed projects for Hallmark, Lifetime, and Roku. In a heartfelt PEOPLE essay, Lowe revealed she’s been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, sharing how she discovered it and how she’s facing treatment with courage and support from her family.

In February 2025, as I was getting ready one morning, I discovered a large lump in my right breast — and in that instant, everything else faded away. At first, I assumed it was a strained muscle from a recent workout. Still, wanting to be cautious, I went straight to my doctor. They ordered a mammogram and a guided ultrasound, but both came back clear. “The breast is just one of those things,” they said lightly. “It’s a mystery.”