In the heart of Oslo, Norway, a bronze statue is quietly changing the conversation around breast cancer by honouring women living with an incurable diagnosis.
Named “Cecilie,” the sculpture is believed to be the world’s first public statue dedicated to a woman living with metastatic breast cancer. Located in Spikersuppa Park, near the Norwegian Parliament, it was modelled after Cecilie Flatval, a mother of three who was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at the age of 42.
Unlike many breast cancer awareness campaigns that focus on survival and recovery, the statue shines a light on those whose cancer cannot be cured, patients who often say they feel forgotten in the wider conversation.
Determined to make women like herself visible, Flatval agreed to become the face of the project. She chose to be portrayed exactly as she was, including the scar left by a mastectomy, sending a powerful message about dignity, resilience and acceptance.
The sculpture was commissioned by the Norwegian Breast Cancer Society in collaboration with the Association of Norwegian Sculptors and created by acclaimed sculptor Håkon Anton Fagerås. It was donated to the city by property developer Eiendomsspar.
Flatval lived to see the completed monument before she died in April 2023. Today, the statue stands not only as a tribute to her courage but also as a place of reflection for families who have lost loved ones to metastatic breast cancer.
Around 600 women die from the disease in Norway every year. By immortalising Cecilie in bronze, the memorial reminds the world that while not every cancer story ends in survival, every life deserves to be seen, remembered and honoured.
