TV: Downtown businesses display photos of cancer survivors

They are pictures of survivors, captured in black and white with just a touch of yellow.

The 24 photos on display in the 2nd Street Business District in downtown Austin are all of young people with two things in common -- they all survived childhood cancer, and they're all wearing bright yellow Livestrong bracelets.

"It's amazing and just seeing the strength in all these people gives just gives you hope for your own treatment," said Lynne (pronounced lihn-ay) Bowman, whose picture is part of the exhibit.

Bowman was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a cancer in her lymph node system, during her senior year in high school. She has completed treatment and is doing well, but says childhood cancer changes you forever.

"If you get cancer as a child, it definitely makes you more mature," she said. "You kind of have to to get through it."

She says the photos serve as a testament that there is life on the other side of cancer.

"You have your ambition still," she said. "It's not any different. You have this little speed bump you have to get by, and that's what I hope people see."

The photos are the brainchild of photographer Eric Von Lehmden of Studio 563, who has survived two bouts with brain cancer. The photos are on display to help celebrate this weekend's Livestrong Challenge, the biggest annual fund-raiser for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Von Lehmden says he didn't know many young people with cancer when he was diagnosed and wants the photos to serve as an inspiration to newly diagnosed young people with cancer.

"They can look at these photos and be like, 'I'm going to beat this thing, I'm going to get where they are now,'" Von Lehmden said.

These are the second round of survivor photos Von Lehmden has taken. The first are on display at the Livestrong Childhood Cancer Survivorship Center, which provides follow-up and long-term care to young people who have survived cancer.

"I think it's an inspiration to our newly diagnosed children," said Dr. Virginia Harrod, a pediatric oncologist at the center. "They are going through so much, and it's so confusing, and it's so incredibly scary on every level. They don't know what to expect, but even if they have adequate treatment and do very well with that, what happens then?

"These other patients that we are showcasing at the survivorship center and on the (downtown) tour are testaments that you can get through this horrendous diagnosis you've been given," she said. "There is a way to get through and there are people you can talk to, and as well, there are people on the other side that have finished. You can continue with your life and you can maximize your life in all aspects. I think they really provide a strong story of encouragement to those newly onset diagnosed patients."

The photos will be on display in 2nd Street businesses through the end of October.