Perth family's heartbreak after new dad Josh Piscitelli loses his battle with deadly disease

A young family is devastated after a new dad passed away after losing his battle with an aggressive form of cancer.

Perth man Josh Piscitelli passed away on July 14 at the age of 28, a little over a year after he was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the tongue in June 2023.

He left behind wife Chelsea and 20-month-old son Hunter. 

Mr Piscitelli, a mechanic for diggers and drills at Western Australia's Roy Hill iron ore mine, underwent surgery to remove the cancerous tissue in July 2023 and continued radiotherapy until October 2023.

He had first noticed on ulcer on his tongue which wouldn't go away, before a diagnosis of Stage Two cancer of the tongue and throat. 

In January this year during a routine PET scan, it was discovered the cancer had returned.

On a GoFundMe page organised for Mr Piscitelli's young family by his friend and work colleague Callan Oorschot, his final months battling the disease were detailed.  

'He commenced chemotherapy immediately but after a couple of failed rounds his treatment was intensified,' Mr Oorschot wrote. 

'Josh then fell victim to an extreme side effect of chemotherapy which put his body into septic shock in March 2024. 

'With multiple surgeons and specialists surprised Josh had made it through the never before survived, deeming him a medical miracle, it was then revealed Josh had suffered multiple strokes as a result of the septic shock.

'Josh commenced yet another intense road to recovery. His rehabilitation was coming along in leaps and bounds but unfortunately a short time later was advised that chemotherapy treatment wasn't working and Josh's condition was now terminal, less than 12 months after his initial diagnosis.'

The fundraising page was established because of the 'massive financial burdens' imposed by a terminal illness, in addition to the emotional pain and stress for his family, Mr Oorschot said. 

'Josh was the primary income provider for his household and should have had his whole working life ahead of him. Josh's wife Chelsea and son Hunter are now left to pick up the pieces as they prepare for major financial and emotional shifts.'

The tongue is susceptible to several types of cancer but squamous cell carcinoma is the most common. Squamous cells are thin, flat cells that line the mouth and other organs. 

The cancer is more common in people aged 40 and up, and is twice as common in men.

Signs of potential tongue cancer include a lump on the side of the tongue that touches the teeth, looks like an ulcer and is grayish-pink to red, and bleeds easily if bitten or touched.