Hallmark Star Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe Shares Breast Cancer Journey, Battles Hair Loss with Cold Capping
Los Angeles, CA – Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe, known for her roles in Hallmark films and television series, has publicly revealed her recent breast cancer diagnosis and is undergoing chemotherapy. The actress is documenting her experience on social media, offering a candid look at the challenges – and moments of humor - of treatment, including proactively attempting to preserve her hair through cold capping.
Lowe, 41, shared a video on Instagram showing herself outfitted with a cold cap – a device worn during chemotherapy to constrict blood flow to the scalp, aiming to minimize hair loss. “So, I’m cold capping and this is what my life is like now,” she said with a smirk, describing the experience as feeling like a “Snapchat memoji” with “maxi pads on my face.” She explained the process involves using dry ice to freeze hair follicles,but acknowledged starting a week late reduced her chances of success to 50%.
The actress detailed how confronting the potential loss of her hair has been the most tough aspect of her diagnosis. In an October 18th post accompanying a photo of her new shoulder-length bob, Lowe wrote, “The hair journey has been the toughest by far… underneath itS really about losing control.” She shared that cutting her hair shorter was a way to regain some control and lessen the emotional impact if hair loss occurs. Lowe has also been exploring wigs, playfully showcasing a purple style as a favorite.
Beyond chemotherapy, Lowe will undergo a double mastectomy, radiation, and reconstructive surgeries, as reported to People magazine. A GoFundMe campaign launched by friends has raised over $10,000 to help cover expenses during her treatment, as her directing work on a “Hannah Swensen Mystery” for Hallmark has been postponed. Lowe and her husband, Mike Tomasevich, have two children: a nine-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son.
