Q: just backed up my iphone to the icloud and updated my software.  I clicked on "delete once downloaded" but now can not find the pictures -- 470 of them.  How can I access them?

Where did you click on "delete once downloaded"? 

Did you back up your phone to iCloud?  If so, the backup should include your camera roll photos, but you have to restore to the entire backup to recover them.

I backed up my phone to icloud, but don't see my camera roll listed as being backed up.  I have not deleted anything after backing up my data.  I have an iphone 5, and am upgrading to an iphone 5s but don't want to lose all my photos.  please help!!

You can import your camera roll to your computer using your usb cable as explained here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4083.

If you're upgrading your phone, I would recommend that you backup your old phone to your computer using iTunes.  Restoring an iTunes backup to your new phone will be much faster than restoring an iCloud backup, and possibly more reliable too.

To back it up to iTunes, connect it to your computer, open iTunes, click on the name of your phone in iTunes, then go to the Summary tab of your iTunes sync settings and click Back Up Now.  The go to File>Devices>Transfer Purchases.

When setting up your new phone, when given the option, choose Restore from iTunes Backup and restore this backup to your new phone.  It will include your camera roll and other data; restoring the backup will will also sync your apps and other iTunes media from your iTunes library to your new phone.