Crown Princess Mette-Marit diagnosed with chronic lung disease: October 2018

[ROYAL NORWAY]

Well, I was about to watch the Danish gala dinner yesterday evening when NRK1 (the state-owned Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation's and Norway's largest TV-channel at 19:00) announced that: ''Hennes Kongelige Høyhet Kronprinsessen har blitt diagnostisert med kronisk lungesykdom (kronisk lungefibrose).''
Translated to: ''HRH The Crown Princess has been diagnosed with chronic lung-disease (pulmonary fibrosis).''
And then started broadcasting an interview with the CP-Couple in the library at Skaugum (CP Haakon's privately-owned, but official residence), where a brave and positive Crown Princess said that she wanted to continue with her duties, while the Crown Prince said this: ''Jeg tenker at med en del tilpasninger, så er jo det mest sannsynlige at det kommer til og være mange gode dager femmover, også foran oss.''
Translated to: ''I think that with some adjustments, it's most likely that there will be many good days ahead, also in front of us.''

Me: Well, I nearly fell off my chair in shock - and got so emotional that I decided to wait with posting here on TRF to the day after.

--------------------

The whole Official statement from the court, translated by me:

The Crown Princess has undergone extensive examinations related to her health and an unusual variant of fibrosis has been discovered in the lungs, according to the Crown Princess's doctor, Professor Kristian Bjøro at the Rikshospital (The National Hospital in Oslo). It's not yet clear whether the lung-disease is linked to a more extensive autoimmune disease-process or if there are other causes that underlie the changes in the lungs.

"For a number of years, I've had health challenges on a regular basis, and now we know more about what these are. The condition means that the working-capacity will vary. The Crown Prince and I choose to inform about this now, partly because in the future, there will be a need to plan periods without official programme. In connection with treatment and when the disease is more active, this will be necessary,'' says the Crown Princess.

Professor Bjøro states that the lung changes have already been followed for several years, and that the disease-development during this period has been slow. Investigation and treatment takes place at the Rikshospital in Oslo - and in cooperation with doctors abroad.

"The Crown Princess will have to undergo further examinations in the future and also treatment-trials. In such conditions as the Crown Princess has, it's common for us to cooperate with environments abroad,'' says Bjøro.

He further states that the cause of the type of fibrosis that the Crown Princess has been diagnosed with, to a small extent is known, but there is broad consensus that it is not related to environmental or lifestyle-factors, which is the case with other more common types of pulmonary fibrosis.

The fact that the disease is diagnosed at an early stage is favorable considering the prognosis.

"Although such a diagnosis in times will limit my life (she means with work and stuff), I'm glad that the disease has been discovered so early. My goal is still to work and participate in the official program as much as possible,'' says the Crown Princess.

--------------------

Informative NTB (The Norwegian News Agency) article translated by Norway Today, although I would have translated some of the stuff a bit different, but really worth a read for English speaking posters here: Crown Princess diagnosed with fibrosis.

Quote from the article; The Crown Princess's doctor, Professor Kristian Bjøro at the Rikshospitalet, said this to NRK:

Some studies and investigations remain, for example, to clarify whether this is an autoimmune process only in the lungs or if there are other organs involved or may be involved at a later stage.

– When we have a better overview, we can hopefully offer the Crown Princess treatment that can slow down and, at best, control the development of the disease, he lectures.

According to Bjøro, the doctors are optimistic on behalf of the Crown Princess:

– This has been diagnosed early and we have high hopes that we will be able to control it, to control the development of the disease in an adequate manner.

--------------------

How long can she live with it?
Well, if she is VERY lucky: About 10-15 years, and since it's been discovered at an early stage, we really have to hope for the best.
But the average survival rate is unfortunately just 3-5 years (discovered early or not).

And think about Ingrid & Sverre, having to go through this, while a whole nation is watching.

--------------------

The reactions in Norway:
The people I've talked to are pretty shocked, but also impressed by the fact that she still wants to perform as many duties as possible.
While the politicians/media praises her for the openness she has shown in talking about this publicly.

Her position in Norway:
Well, from the moment this become known, she was untouchable (which means that she can now defend Marius as much as she wants, without getting any noise from the press about it), and her popularity is probably going to go through the roof here. - You know, no one is going to criticize a dying Crown Princess who has vowed to still do her duty.
The same goes for CP Haakon, because no one is going to criticize a Crown Prince with a dying wife. - So everything has changed now, everything!

[Osipi]

Thanks, Royal Norway, for informing me about this. It is shocking news to be sure as, for the most part, we really look up to and admire our royals and they somehow take on a aura of glamor and glitter and when something happens such as Mette-Marit's chronic lung disease, we realize just how human they really are and susceptible to things that affect humans just like us.

I have to know though that with this being diagnosed early on with the Crown Princess having access to the very best in medical care, everything humanly possible will be done to preserve her quality of life and hopefully for a very long time.

As devastating as this news is, especially for her family, another factor that is going to really work in her favor is her positive attitude towards what she needs to do and what she most likely will have to go through and face during this battle. She doesn't sound like she's going to let it get the best of her and is determined to keep on with her life as much as she possibly can. I'm sure that having a very strong support system in her husband, her family and her people are going to be her strength and her stay.

She's going to fight the good fight and with all the miracles that are happening everyday in modern medicine, she may actually win. Let's hope so.

[Muhler]

I naturally hope she will be cured, either through a lung transplant or a medical breakthrough. That perhaps is too much to expect.
At least I hope she will be around long enough to see her children become adults.

As much sympathy I have for Mette-Marit and Haakon, I have even more sympathy for their children.
No matter how this ends, it's very hard on the children and even more so because they will have to deal with the illness of their mother in full public glare, even despite the press showing every possible restraint.
After all they are "public children" and everyone will watch how they deal with their mother's illness.

We should always try and find a positive angle on everything, no matter how gloom. This will bring more awareness of the other children who suffer from a parent being seriously ill. How they cope, how they deal with their sense of loneliness and even abandonment and anger. If this can help these children then at least something good will come out of this.

[carlota]

what a blow this must be for her and her family. i hope we get more news on her condition soon. it is now understandable why MM was so susceptible to illness in the past. i have no doubt she will receive the best of medical care so that will hopefully ease the situation.

i can see her getting involved with an organisation dealing with this illness in the future as part of her (now reduced) activities.

[sm1939]

Such sad news ....so brave.

[Hannelore]

Incredible... yes. Such a blow to the crown prince couple and their children!

Let's hope Mette-Marit still has many good days ahead of her. The thought of leaving this world so much sooner than you'd expect must be terrifying...

How are the reactions in Norway? In the Nordegian media?

[wartenberg7]

I thought, good Gracious, hopefully history will not repeat itself (Martha/ Olav)....!


I hope people, also here on this board, claiming she was pretending sickness to avoid unloving duties will now judge differently!

[Curryong]

Well, it goes back even further doesn't it? Queen Maud. Nevertheless, this is a close family and they will all pull together as much as they possibly can. And Mette Marit's positive attitude will really help her through the treatment. They have caught this early and that is a blessing.

[ROYAL NORWAY]

Originally Posted by Hannelore

Incredible... yes. Such a blow to the crown prince couple and their children!

Let's hope Mette-Marit still has many good days ahead of her. The thought of leaving this world so much sooner than you'd expect must be terrifying...

How are the reactions in Norway? In the Nordegian media?

I actually wrote about it in the bottom of post 21.

The extent of the media-coverage: Well, it dominated the news-outlets here yesterday.
Today: More calm, due to the fact that the media is respecting her privacy.
Although, we have received some news from the court, saying that the Crown Princess (very understandable BTW and not surprising at all) will cancel an engagement with CP Haakon today, but she will (most likely) attend the annual white-tie gala-dinner for the Storting (Parliament) at the Royal Palace this evening.

--------------------

English article by Oskar Aanmoen (written some minutes ago): Norwegian politicians and doctors thank the Crown Princess for openness regarding her illness – Royal Central

Doctors and experts also think it is important that the Crown Princess has talked openly about her illness. One of Norway’s best lung specialists, Olav Kåre Refvem said to the Norwegian TV-channel NRK:

“She has given a face to a disease that not so many would talk about. This will and can give hope to many people who have been diagnosed, and know how difficult this is. It is good for the medical community that such a prominent person as the Crown Princess actually speaks about this and is part of it. It is about identifying with a person who is familiar. It shows that it is not only common people who get a disease”.

[Kataryn]

Originally Posted by ROYAL NORWAY

Quote from the article; The Crown Princess's doctor, Professor Kristian Bjøro at the Rikshospitalet, said this to NRK:


--------------------

How long can she live with it?
Well, if she is VERY lucky: About 10-15 years, and since it's been discovered at an early stage, we really have to hope for the best.
But the average survival rate is unfortunately just 3-5 years (discovered early or not).

And think about Ingrid & Sverre, having to go through this, while a whole nation is watching.

--------------------

First of all: I would hate to think of MM as a "dying wife" - in that sense we are all "dying" from the moment we were born.


I read up on the disease at a website of the German association of lung-doctors (to translate it roughly) and they say that the disease "lung fibrosis" is in fact a common name for over 100 diseases with similar effects. So it's surely difficult to say that her kind of fibrosis is like the "average" one with only 3-5 years to live.


As I suffer from a chronical autoimmune disease as well and have asthma, I believe I can understand why Mette Marit went public. For such disease can be better or worse within dhours and that makes it difficult to hide when she is still working as a Royal princess with public duties. There are so many people involved in planning events and showing up there and of course she doesn't want to disappoint any of them.


When her doctors say that after years of treatment for smaller medical issues she now has been diagnosed with early stages of the fibrosis, they surely are at a good way to discover the interactions that go wrong in her body and there are a lot of possibilities for therapy. Look at me: my cardiologist is very well-known in medical circles and he had to warn me that I could die anytime.That was 5 years ago and through therapy the risk has gone down, so I can lead a pretty normal life and the chance that I don't die soon are much better now.


So I hope her doctors will find a good therapy for her, so her life is not too much overshadowed by her illness and she can look forward to being with her family for a long time to come.

[ladongas]

Perhaps her much-remarked-upon fear of flying is related to this. Shortness of breath while flying could indeed make one fearful.

[Dman]

My thoughts and prayers are with the Crown Princess of Norway and her family. I hope all treatments are successful and may she feel better.

[principessa]

Originally Posted by ROYAL NORWAY

How long can she live with it?
Well, if she is VERY lucky: About 10-15 years, and since it's been discovered at an early stage, we really have to hope for the best.
But the average survival rate is unfortunately just 3-5 years (discovered early or not).

And think about Ingrid & Sverre, having to go through this, while a whole nation is watching.

Don't forget Marius!

[Biri]

Fact that Marius is already of age, doesn't mean it's not a drama also for him.
As for eventual lung transplant - if it's necessary - how is it regulated in Norway?

[Hans-Rickard]

The first thing i thought after reading it in the swedish media yesterday was -

"Dear Lord in heaven, please be kind to this Wonderful woman, her husband and her children. Don't let Crown Prince Haakon have to do what his grandfather had to do in 1957 - become King alone. Be kind to Mette Marit and let her have many more good years together her husband and 3 beautiful children. Amen"

I guess we can only hope and pray that she will be one of those who will break the expectations and live much longer than what everyone thought 🙏 My father had a kidney transplant in 1975 (shortly after they began doing it in Sweden). He lived for 34 more years on the same kidney and died from an another illness. Just trying to show that as long as there is life, there is always hope !

[wyevale]

This is very distressing, for ALL who love or value the Crown Princess.. may she, her husband, children and wider family find the strength they need in the coming years..

[kathia_sophia]

So so so sad news. My heart is with Mette-Marit and her family, specially her children. It is heartbreaking.

I know how hard it can be to hear such news and go along with all the process. My father was diagnosed with bladder cancer, but it was discovered at the early stages, so with treatments and two operations he survived it. It's been 7/8 years and he is still with us. So I have hopes for Mette-Marit since it was discovered on time. Never lose hope! Miracles do happen!

[Tilia C.]

This is really shocking news. Besides putting up a brave face, it must have been very hard for Mette-Marit an Haakon to go public with this diagnosis. But now that it's in the open, it will much easier to explain why Mette-Marit is taking on only few engagements or even has to cancel some. I really hope that good medical care and all the rest she might need will help her live for many more good years.


As for the children, I fear that Ingrid Alexandra will be affected the most. She might have to take on the role as first lady much earlier than she normally would have. Even with her mother still being around, Mette-Marit will be able to take on fewer and fewer engagements over the years. It must be pretty daunting for her.

[ROYAL NORWAY]

Kataryn: According to Norwegian medical-experts (on this field), this is a pretty grim diagnosis, but it's been discovered at an early stage. - And that's very positive, so let's hope for the best.

Principessa/Biri: I was thinking about Ingrid & Sverre (as two 14/12-years-old members of the RF), having to go through this, while a whole nation is watching.
That doesn't mean I didn't think about Marius, Haakon or other members of the family.

So, calm yourselves down!

And when it comes to Lung-transplantations in Norway, take a read here: Lung transplantation - Oslo University Hospital.

[Barbara21]

I read it today in Estonian news and I am still shocked.
I naturally hope she will be cured. Good things happen and hopefully she can live a long life.