In Oslo, a bronze statue of Cecilie Flatval is giving public visibility to metastatic breast cancer. Believed to be the world’s first public statue of a woman living with incurable breast cancer, the work was unveiled on June 20, 2022, in front of the Norwegian Parliament and later relocated to Spikersuppa in central Oslo.
A Statue That Changed the Conversation
Public monuments often honor political leaders, artists, or historical figures. In central Oslo, however, one bronze statue tells a different story: that of a woman living with metastatic breast cancer. The sculpture depicts Cecilie Flatval, a wife and mother of three who was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in her early 40s. She chose to make her incurable diagnosis visible rather than hidden. Standing with one breast and a clearly visible mastectomy scar, the statue challenges conventional representations of illness and beauty while encouraging more open conversations about stage IV breast cancer.
Photo: @fageras_sculpture Instagram Account
Created by Norwegian sculptor Håkon Anton Fagerås, Cecilie is believed to be the world’s first public statue dedicated to a woman living with incurable breast cancer. Cecilie died in April 2023, after seeing the sculpture unveiled during her lifetime.
Who Was Cecilie Flatval?
Cecilie Flatval was a wife, a mother of three, and a woman living with an incurable diagnosis. She agreed to become the subject of a public sculpture because she wanted people with secondary breast cancer to feel less invisible. Her decision reflected a belief that openness could reduce silence and stigma around metastatic disease. Rather than allowing her experience to remain private, Cecilie chose public visibility. In doing so, she transformed a personal diagnosis into a wider act of advocacy for others living with advanced breast cancer.
The Statue and Where It Stands
The bronze sculpture “Cecilie” was unveiled on June 20, 2022, at Eidsvolls plass, in front of Stortinget, the Norwegian Parliament. The unveiling brought together Oslo officials and breast cancer advocates, including Marianne Borgen and Ellen Harris Utne. The statue was later relocated to its permanent setting in Spikersuppa, near Karl Johans gate in central Oslo. Positioned in a busy public space, it invites residents and visitors to reflect on metastatic breast cancer, mortality, dignity, and the lives behind the diagnosis. The work is widely described as the world’s first public statue honoring a woman living with incurable breast cancer.
How the Project Was Made
The project was developed through collaboration between the Norwegian Breast Cancer Society, the Association of Norwegian Sculptors, and Eiendomsspar AS. After the artistic jury selected Håkon Anton Fagerås, the figure was first modeled in clay. It was then enlarged to full size in Pietrasanta, Italy, cast in bronze, and transported to Oslo for installation. The statue also includes a QR code linking to a short documentary about Cecilie’s life, the artistic process, and the meaning behind the monument. This digital element extends the experience beyond the sculpture itself, allowing visitors to hear more of Cecilie’s story.
What Cecilie Wanted
Much of the statue’s meaning comes from Cecilie’s own words.
She said:
“I’ve always thought that death is a natural part of life, and something we should talk about a lot more.”
She explained that she agreed to the portrait because she wanted to help “disarm death” and make it safer to talk about.
Cecilie also hoped the statue would become: “a memory, an opportunity for reflection” and, for those closest to her: “a place to go.”
These words turn the sculpture into more than a work of art. It becomes a public conversation about life, death, family, dignity, and the experience of living with incurable cancer.
Why the Statue Matters
Breast cancer awareness campaigns often focus on early detection, remission, and survival. While these messages are important, they can leave people living with metastatic disease feeling overlooked. The statue of Cecilie presents a different image. It shows a woman with a visible scar and an altered body, yet with full presence, dignity, and humanity. The sculpture does not reduce her to a diagnosis. Instead, it reminds viewers that people lving with incurable breast cancer are also mothers, partners, daughters, friends, and members of their communities.
By placing Cecilie in one of Oslo’s most visible public spaces, the project brings metastatic breast cancer into everyday civic life. It makes a condition that is often discussed privately impossible to ignore.
Recognition and Legacy
In March 2024, the Norwegian Breast Cancer Society received the European Breast Cancer Arts and Humanities Award for the statue. The recognition helped establish the work as more than a local monument. It became part of a broader international conversation about visibility, dignity, and representation for people living with metastatic breast cancer. Cecilie’s death in April 2023 gave the sculpture an additional layer of meaning. It became both a tribute to her life and a continuing symbol for others living with incurable disease.
A Legacy of Visibility
Cecilie is both a memorial and a message. Unveiled on June 20, 2022, in front of the Norwegian Parliament and now standing in Spikersuppa in central Oslo, the sculpture remains a rare and powerful tribute to people living with metastatic breast cancer. Cecilie Flatval’s legacy is that she turned a private diagnosis into a public act of visibility. Through the statue, she gave a face, a scar, and a name to a group too often left outside the breast cancer conversation. Her presence in bronze continues to ask the public to look, listen, and speak more openly about incurable disease.
You Can Also Read Artists With Cancer: How Illness Shaped Powerful Art by OncoDaily
Written by Aharon Tsaturyan, MD, Editor at OncoDaily Intelligence Unit
FAQ
What is metastatic breast cancer?
Metastatic breast cancer, also called stage IV breast cancer, is breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs, or brain. While it is not considered curable, many people live for years with modern treatment.
Can people live a long time with metastatic breast cancer?
Yes. Advances in targeted therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy have improved survival, allowing many people to live for several years while maintaining a good quality of life.
Is metastatic breast cancer curable?
Currently, metastatic breast cancer is generally not curable. Treatment focuses on slowing disease progression, controlling symptoms, and helping patients live longer and better.
What is a mastectomy scar?
A mastectomy scar is the mark left after surgery to remove one or both breasts. Many people choose not to undergo breast reconstruction, and visible scars have become important symbols of breast cancer awareness and body acceptance.
Where is the Cecilie statue located?
The statue of Cecilie Flatval is permanently located in Spikersuppa, a public square in central Oslo, Norway, near Karl Johans gate.
Who was Cecilie Flatval?
Cecilie Flatval was a Norwegian mother of three living with metastatic breast cancer who became the subject of a public bronze statue to raise awareness of people living with incurable breast cancer.
Who created the Cecilie statue?
The sculpture was created by Norwegian artist Håkon Anton Fagerås and unveiled in June 2022.
Why is the Cecilie statue important?
The statue is believed to be the world's first public monument dedicated to a woman living with metastatic breast cancer. It promotes visibility, challenges stigma, and encourages conversations about incurable cancer.
Why is metastatic breast cancer awareness important?
People living with metastatic breast cancer often feel overlooked because many awareness campaigns focus on early detection and survivorship. Greater awareness helps improve understanding, advocacy, research, and support for patients.
What is the difference between breast cancer and metastatic breast cancer?
Early-stage breast cancer is confined to the breast and nearby lymph nodes and may be curable. Metastatic breast cancer has spread to distant organs and requires ongoing treatment to control the disease.