Cecilie Flatval herself has been diagnosed with incurable cancer, and is taking medication to slow down the development and to prolong life. Her type of cancer is currently not curable. Today, a statue of her will be unveiled, which will stand in Eidvoll’s square in front of the Storting. The Breast Cancer Association believes it is the first statue of its kind in the world. – It’s nice, but also strange to expose yourself and be so visible, Cecilie says. The statue will be a memory for everyone who has – or has had severe breast cancer. Photo: Torstein Bøe / news 600 people die of breast cancer every year Every year, about 600 people die of breast cancer in Norway, and in addition there are many who live with incurable cancer. Cecilie thinks one needs to talk more about cancer, and hopes that a public statue in the heart of Oslo can contribute to just that – be a conversation opener. – Maybe you just walk by, or use it to remember someone you love, she says. For Cecilie, it has been especially important to make visible the group of people who have metastatic breast cancer – an incurable form of breast cancer where the cancer has spread to another organ. There are many subgroups of metastatic breast cancer and several can live long with the disease. – I hope that a statue makes us visible. It has been a bit of a driving force, she says. Cecilie was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer two years ago, and finds that many find it difficult to talk about. Now she hopes that a statue will help to normalize what is very difficult, namely illness and death. She believes it is important to focus on those who live long with incurable cancer. Photo: Tangrystan Illness and death are a part of life A statue of a woman with breast cancer has never been made before. The Breast Cancer Association says it means a lot that they now have a statue that can shine among people on the street. – All those who live with incurable breast cancer are often overshadowed when we talk about breast cancer and the high survival rate among breast cancer patients. It is therefore incredibly great that this group gets a spotlight on them, says board chair of the Breast Cancer Association, Ellen Harris Utne. Chairman of the board of the Breast Cancer Association, Ellen Harris Utne. Photo: Erik Thallaug / Brystkreftforeningen – I would go so far as to claim that this is one of the most important works of art that has ever been made. The Breast Cancer Association hopes and believes that this statue will make visible to all those living with an incurable disease. And you think you have to dare to talk about death in a natural way. – This statue reminds us that illness and death are a part of life. The importance of a place to go This is not the first time Cecilie has had to deal with the aggressive disease. A few years ago, her ex-husband died of cancer. – I have an experience that I think made this less scary for me, than for many others. By experiencing death in close family, she has also seen the importance of having a place to go to if you want to remember someone you love. Her children have not had a grave to go to after her father died. – Since he died in Greece, they have no grave to go to here in Norway. She herself hopes that her children will use the statue to remember her. She likes that a statue is made that her children can go to, and also emphasizes the sustainable aspect of having such a public statue. – A statue becomes a bit like a memorial grove. It frees the responsibility for the care of the grave regardless of where the children will live in the future, she says. Cecilie Flatval with her daughter. Photo: Torstein Bøe / news
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Today, statue of a woman with incurable cancer is unveiled – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
