It is the basis of life, the focal point of creation. It is the most important, yet the smallest of all things; the keystone, the pharaoh of each and every one of us. As a collective whole, everything is ruled by this one thing. The building block of our existence; our cells.
A cell rules its kingdom with an unconscious consciousness. The DNA, a god, who uses the pharaoh to depict its wishes. The human body worships the cell by paying tribute in the form of nutrients that allows this god to grow and flourish. Like the Nile is to Egypt, it provides the resources in which the land can be cultivated and therefore prosper. The nutrients it gains allows this pharaoh, the cell, to grow. Without its needs met, problems will occur. Some of which include; cell death, mutation, and exploitive roaming that leads to the devastation of the ecosystem where it lives.
Take a normal liver cell, it is able to replicate through cell division. It has the ability to create an offspring needed to continue its rule. Somewhere down the line, there may be a ruler that will falter in its step. This falter may cause the pharaoh to father a line of mutant offspring who will act agains their fellow cells. Their forefathers look upon their children, unable to do anything from within their tombs, for all created must cells die and all cells that exist are born from another.
A single misstep has the opportunity to create a mutation that makes the cell grow rapidly. It no longer takes time to grow and develop but separates at expedient rates and breeds a never dying, always moving, never ceasing army of pharaohs. The same pharaohs that once provided the resources to grow the land, have now become a plague, killing everything in their path.
The cell will continue to kill its own ecosystem until there is nothing left for it to feast. When this mutiny of utter destruction occurs it spreads through the body like wild fire. It moves onto new conquests; taking over empires (organs), peoples (lymphatic systems), civilizations (cognitive abilities).
The body is no longer able to living in harmony as it once did. It’s resources and nutrients that were once dispersed equally throughout the body are being blocked and detoured straight to the cancerous ulcer growing in the body. The Nile begins to dry up, and the vessel the holds the pharaohs begins to groan and creak, it leaks and shudders. The body cannot keep up with assault of the growing mutations and diversions of precious resources.
“The signs and symptoms were there, I just didn’t realize.” “I should’ve gone to the doctor sooner.” “I am feeling more fatigued recently.” “Can you check this lump? I’m not sure how long it’s been there.” “You lost 15 lbs since your last visit, have you made dietary or lifestyle changes in the past few months?“
It is not always apparent to the vessel or to the doctors the cause of the signs and symptoms. We all pray the gods that we catch it in time for there to be a diagnosis, a plan, a cure, to be in remission.
To determine the diseased in a body, cells are chiseled out in order to be understood. Surgeons act as archeologists, unmasking the mummified pharaohs who are then gutted, studied and probed to find a remedy to cease the reign of terror. Each war waged on the imperishable pharaohs, it has to be determined which specific weaponry will be used for this specific enemy.
The strategy is been drawn up. Wave 1 proceeds, then 2, then 3. The vessel rocks violently as it is being assaulted with drugs and radiation. Progress is being made, the tumor shrinks, but many of the good and true pharaohs did not make it in the cross fire. Intravenously, nutrients are slowly filling up the dried up Nile, but not fast enough. Sea sickness takes over the body, and the vessel loses their coverings as the onslaught continues. The illness is not only consuming the body, but of the minds and souls of the families, friends, partners of those that are sick.
When the body begins to go, it is easy to focus on the health and wellbeing of vessel. But the soul of the vessel, the part of us that makes us who we are, slowly deteriorates as sickness and disease creeps deeper into the fabric of the day-to-day. When each member of the team chooses wellness of the mind another weapon is added to the arsenal. The strength to endure comes from holding fast to the key identities that make up the soul, the mind, and the personality of those fighting the war against the pharaoh of cells.
I am…
“I am not cancer.”᠅ “I am not disease.”᠅ “I am a dancer.”᠅ “I am a musician.”᠅ “I am a hobbyist.”᠅ “I am a singer.”᠅ “I am a cook.”᠅ “I am a writer.”᠅ “I am an athlete.”᠅ “I am organized.”᠅ “I am a rock climber.”᠅ “I am a painter.”᠅ “I am a reader.”᠅ “I am an engineer.”᠅ “I am compassionate.”᠅ “I am resilient.”᠅ “I am curious.”᠅ “I am kind.”᠅ “I am a good listener.”᠅ “I am patient.”᠅ “I am resourceful.”᠅ “I am dependable.”᠅ “I am a visionary.”᠅ ” am a leader.”᠅ “I am a problem-solver.”᠅ “I am creative.”᠅ “I am courageous.”᠅ “I am a peacemaker.”᠅ “I am intuitive.”᠅ “I am honest.”᠅ “I am joyful.”᠅ “I am a positive person.”᠅ “I am open-minded.”᠅ “I am a learner.”᠅ “I am a poet.”᠅ “I am a photographer.”᠅ “I am a designer.”᠅ “I am a public speaker.”᠅ “I am a gardener.”᠅ “I am a traveler.”᠅ “I am a craftsman.”᠅ “I am a chess player.”᠅ “I am a gamer.”᠅ “I am a coder.”᠅ “I am a hiker.”᠅ “I am a baker.”᠅ “I am a teacher.”᠅ “I am a student.”᠅ “I am an adventurer.”᠅ ” am a collector.”᠅ “I am a dog trainer.”᠅ “I am a martial artist.”᠅ “I am a woodworker.”᠅ “I am a friend.”᠅ “I am a sibling.”᠅ “I am a son/daughter.”᠅ “I am a partner.”᠅ “I am a parent.”᠅ “I am a mentor.”᠅ “I am a neighbor.”᠅ “I am a colleague.”᠅ “I am a member of my community.”᠅ “I am a collaborator.”᠅ “I am an advocate.”᠅ “I am a leader in my field.”᠅ “I am a student of life.”᠅ “I am enough.”᠅ “I am worthy of love.”᠅ “I am a work in progress.”᠅ “I am a survivor.”᠅ “I am a thriver.”᠅ “I am open to new experiences.”᠅ “I am capable of change.”᠅ “I am grateful.”᠅ “I am healing.”᠅ “I am confident.”᠅ “I am present.”᠅ “I am growing.”᠅ “I am a spiritual being.”᠅ “I am whole.”᠅ “I am strong.”᠅ “I am at peace.”᠅ “I am determined.”᠅ “I am a source of light.”᠅ “I am on my own unique journey.”᠅ “I am…”
Works Cited
“Ancient Egypt: Death and the Afterlife.” Ancient Egypt: Death and the Afterlife. Web. 2 Mar. 2015. <http://www.mylearning.org/ancient-egypt-death-and-the-afterlife/p-2871/>.
“What Causes Cancer?” News RSS. Web. 3 Mar. 2015. <http://www.cancerinstitute.org.au/patient-support/what-i-need-to-know/about-cancer/what-causes-cancer>
Penelope Nave 
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