‘The depression is kicking in’: Sick bowel cancer patient Shona Brandon living out of a van

After Shona Brandon finishes her chemotherapy appointments she returns home. Only for Shona, home is a leaky van – with no insulation.

Shona Brandon is battling stage 3C bowel cancer while living in a van parked in the backyard of a family friend. Picture: Shaun Brandon

After Shona Brandon undergoes chemotherapy she returns from Flinders Hospital to a leaking, half insulated van she bought with all the money she had – her home.

She’s been able to park in the backyard of her family friend who allows her to come inside to use the bathroom.

“The summer was the worst … I couldn’t even stand in the van because it was like walking into a sauna, it was horrible,” the 57-year-old told The Advertiser.

Shona has stage 3C bowel cancer. She was diagnosed in October last year.

“When you’re having chemotherapy you’re vomiting, you’re pooing your pants,” she said.

“This is a tiny, tiny, little van, with my two dogs … and I’m in the backyard.

“It’s no way to be living.”

Shona with her two dogs' Sadie (left) and Puddin (right). Picture: Shaun Brandon

Shona’s mother recently died of bowel cancer, and her grandmother and aunty as well.

“I was in excruciating pain for a long time and had really bad back pain and stomach pain,” she said.

“It got to the stage where I actually couldn’t move for a few days, couldn’t get out of bed.”

After seeing a specialist, tests and a surgery, a doctor woke Shona in the middle of the night to tell her she had stage 3C bowel cancer.

“I didn’t know if I dreamt her,” she said.

“I cried, I thought that was it, because of my mum, I had only just lost her and I know the stages … it scared the hell out of me.”

Shona’s surgery removed half of her bowel and a 10cm cancerous mass. From there she began chemotherapy.

Shona has applied for over 100 rental properties and has not found a home. Picture: Shaun Brandon

Shona lives in Goolwa and has been applying for rentals constantly, but has taken a break to focus on her recovery.

“I would have applied for over 100 houses, way over that actually, that’s a low estimate,” she said.

“When I became sick I knocked back (sic) on looking for the houses obviously, I was just too unwell, I couldn’t go to the inspections obviously.”

Shona’s son, Shaun Brandon has looked for a home for his mum and has set up a GoFundMe to help finance his mum’s goal of finding a stable home.

“He’s been my little lifesaver,” she said.

Shona, who does not work while battling cancer, is working with Junction SA to find a home and has not applied for public housing.

Shona’s plants on the side of the van parked in the backyard of her family friend’s home. Picture: Shaun Brandon

While Shona has completed her most recent round of chemotherapy a PET scan revealed a couple of nodules in her lungs.

Shona said she is expecting a call from her doctors to discuss the next steps of her treatment in a few weeks.

Shona is expecting a call from doctors to discuss her next steps in treatment. Picture: Shaun Brandon

“Depression is kicking in,” Shaun, Shona’s son said. Picture: Shaun Brandon

Shaun said while his mum tries to remain positive about her situation he knows living in the van is “getting to her”.

“The depression is kicking in,” he said.

“You can just tell she hates it. She stays home, she doesn’t go out anywhere, just stuck in the van.”