How to help cancer patients stay optimistic and strong whilst undergoing tough treatment has always occupied the mind of Dang Huu Hung, a freelance photographer in Da Nang. This matter really inspired the kind-hearted man to capture a total of about 100,000 photos showing patients' optimistic smiles at the city’s Cancer Hospital over the past 5 years.

A photo showing male cancer patient with his smile (Photo: Dang Huu Hung)

The photography, to him, is a good way to help patients develop a positive mentality while battling their life-threating disease.

In these vivid photos taken by Hung, hospital-bound cancer patients, in different age groups, are depicted smiling their pain away as a good way to keep them strong both physically and mentally during their toughest days. So, it is rather hard to tell the cancer patient from any ordinary people thanks to their positive attitude toward life.

Amongst the photos taken by him, Hung selected about 100 best ones so as for them to be on display at a recent exhibition held near the western bank of the Rong (Dragon) Bridge, as part of the ongoing ‘One picture, many hopes’ project.

The event attracted a great deal of attention from the general public, stirring deep emotions and profound sympathy, amongst the viewers, for cancer patients who suffer both physical and mental pains caused by the fatal illness. 

In the most touching story, a man, along with his family members, was viewing the photos on display at this exhibition, he suddenly burst into tears as he, by chance, saw a photo capturing his beloved father with cancer, in which despite his pain, he still showed off his happy smile.

The man then asked for this photo from photographer Hung with a deep gratitude in order to preserve it as a valuable keepsake of unforgettable memories about his father. “No words can describe my feelings right now”, the man said in tears of joys.

The image of another cancer patient, a 14-year-old boy with bone cancer, sitting in his bed with his sad eyes, also aroused a deep sympathy in Hung.  Hung encouraged the boy to enjoy and immerse himself in the joyfully atmosphere at the hospital-organised celebration for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The photographer then took a photo entitled ‘Mid-Autumn Smile’, showing the unfortunate boy smiling whilst holding a colourful lantern in his hands. 

An impressive photo entitled ‘Mid-Autumn Smile’ (Photo: Dang Huu Hung)

In fact, although many of the patients who were on the spotlight of the photos captured by Hung passed away, their smiles seem to spread the spirit of optimism and strengths to other living patients. 

Hung said his photos are considered as wonderful gifts for cancer patients in a bid to ease their physical pains, along with their considerable psychological and emotional stress, hereby encouraging them and their families to accept the truth no matter how painful or heartbreaking it is, and live the most meaningful days of the rest of their lives.

Hung happily said he has spent the past 5 years making something meaningful for unfortunate fates in life.

Through his photos and exhibitions, he wants to keep optimistic images of cancer patients who always keep in their minds that “there is nothing to lose, so happily live the remaining days until they are no longer fit to fight”.

The dedicated photographer highlighted the significance of keeping the whole community, especially the young, actively engaged in cancer prevention activities, and showing their great love and care to cancer patients, hereby spreading the highly practical ‘One picture, many hopes’ project in the coming time.