One of those closest to Armstrong’s bout with cancer continues to be amazed at his ability to inspire patients.

Lawrence Einhorn, a professor at the Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis, was one of the doctors who treated Armstrong in 1996. He is a former president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and an expert in testicular cancer.

“He’s the most famous cancer patient in the world,” Einhorn said. “I don’t think there’s ever been an athlete as loved, as legitimately loved, as him.”

That’s probably because of Armstrong’s ongoing connection with cancer patients. The cyclist has said he’s most proud of his label as a cancer survivor.

Einhorn said he recently told Armstrong of a patient who was struggling through treatment, and that Armstrong sent the man a personal e-mail.

In 2004, the Lance Armstrong Foundation and Nike teamed up to develop the LiveStrong yellow wristbands. Sales have surged past 50 million, foundation spokeswoman Michelle Milford said.

Armstrong’s unique story sets him apart from other athletes, Einhorn said.

“You couldn’t do that with Michael Jordan or even Tiger Woods,” the doctor said. “With really no plotting but his own personal dedication, he made himself a role model.”

The LiveStrong campaign is at least partly responsible for Gage Outlaw.

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Told by doctors she was infertile after chemotherapy, Audra Outlaw decided to stop taking drugs she had been given to help prevent the cancer from coming back in order to try getting pregnant. Her doctor recommended against such a risky move, considering that even if she could become pregnant, the pregnancy itself might promote a relapse.

“It took a lot of soul searching,” she said. “A lot of the inspiration came from the whole LiveStrong campaign. It’s about not being afraid to live every day.”

Now Gage is watching his first and last Tour featuring Armstrong.

“We don’t watch TV normally,” Audra Outlaw said. “I think the Tour is the only thing he’s ever seen.”