In Oslo, a bronze monument titled "Cecilie" stands near the Storting, recognized as the world's first ever public statue of a woman living with terminal breast cancer.

 In Oslo, a bronze monument titled "Cecilie" stands near the Storting, recognized as the world's first ever public statue of a woman living with terminal breast cancer.

The piece was modeled after Cecilie Flatval, a mother of three who received her metastatic breast cancer diagnosis at age 42.

While most breast cancer awareness campaigns focus on survival and recovery, patients with an incurable prognosis can often feel forgotten.

Every year, approximately 600 women in Norway lose their lives to metastatic breast cancer.

Cecilie volunteered to represent this community to give them visibility, choosing to be portrayed authentically, including the surgical scar from her mastectomy.

The artwork was commissioned by the Norwegian Breast Cancer Society alongside the Association of Norwegian Sculptors, crafted by artist Håkon Anton Fagerås, and funded by property developer Eiendomsspar.

Cecilie was able to view the finished piece before passing away in April 2023.

Today, it remains permanently in Spikersuppa in central Oslo, serving as a dedicated space for families to honor and remember their lost loved ones.