Hallmark star Hanky Crystal Rowe recently revealed that she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.
Lowe, 44, shared the shocking news about her health in an essay published in People Friday, saying: “This journey has been frightening, strange and humbling.”
The Canadian actress said she first noticed a large lump in her right breast in February, but a mammogram and ultrasound revealed nothing. A few months later, the mass had grown to 10 centimeters and her nipples were inverted, so she underwent a blind biopsy.
“Three days later, my GP called me and said I had invasive cancer in one of my breast ducts,” she recalled. “I still remember hanging up, curling up in a ball and just screaming.”
She initially thought she had stage 2 moderate cancer, but in August she learned she had stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma. Invasive ductal carcinoma is a type of breast cancer that starts in the milk ducts and spreads to nearby tissues.
“Basically, I’m considering everything: chemotherapy, double mastectomy, radiation therapy, and eventually implants…as someone who has never had a major illness, this has been a lot to digest,” she wrote.
The mother of two shared that she has received a lot of support from her Hallmark colleagues during her diagnosis.
“Hollywood gets a bad rap, but when you work with people who love you, they appreciate you,” she said.
She sent a shout out to her co-stars who supported her.
“For the Hannah Swensen series with Hallmark, Alison Sweeney and Craig Baumgarten have rescheduled so they may be able to direct their next production once their treatment is complete,” she said.
“Jeff Schenck of Hybrid Entertainment was kind enough to purchase my wig and provide unlimited transportation to and from my appointments,” she continued. “And Hallmark…let me just say I’ve never been more grateful to be part of a family that practices the values they preach. I’m forever grateful.”
The “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” star vowed to fight the disease.
“It drained me physically, emotionally and mentally in ways I never imagined,” she admitted.
“Yet…I promise to persevere,” she continued. “Turning poison into medicine. Growing. That’s what I’m learning every day.”
