Mapping the Stars: Pathology & IHC Findings

When we started this journey, we knew we were facing a mountain, but we didn’t quite know the shape of it. This week, we received the “map” — Buster’s Immunohistochemistry (IHC) results.

What the science says: While the full pathology and IHC report is a confidential medical document that cannot be shared without express permission from the pathologist*, the key findings report that Buster is dealing with a round to polyhedral cell tumor. To get even more specific, the IHC testing was performed to look at the proteins in the cancer cells. This helps our oncology team understand exactly how aggressive the cells are and, most importantly, which chemotherapy is the best match for treatment. The results confirm this mass to be a melanocytic tumor and rules out a carcinoma and other round cell tumors, which gives us a clearer path forward for his treatment.

Why this matters: This testing is the foundation for his $6000 care plan. It’s what allows us to move from a “wish on a star” to a “man on the moon” perspective. Because of your support, we were able to afford these advanced diagnostics that many families have to decline*. You are literally providing the science that will save his life!

Buster’s Current Vibe: Despite the big medical words, Buster is currently busy chasing down every sunbeam he can, enjoying being spoiled by his mom and dad, and even showing that his spirit is burning bright by breaking a few rules — see picture. He doesn’t know about the pathology, the IHC, or even the cancer in general — he just knows he feels loved!

Thank you for helping us chart our course to healing!!

With love and purrs,

Erin, Jacob, Buster, Binx, Melody Malone, and Julius

*Note: to respect the privacy of Buster’s medical team and laboratory, we aren’t able to share the full pathology report publicly at this time. However, we are happy to discuss the general findings and our planned next steps with anyone who has questions. For anyone who wants to learn more about how to identify feline tumors, check out this article!