A NURSE who volunteers as an army medic is back in action after facing her own battle with cancer.

Army reservist Angela Landells, from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, discovered a lump in her breast while serving in Afghanistan two years ago.

After a scan at Camp Bastion she was advised to go home for further tests but chose to complete the last fortnight of her tour of duty.

She said: “I had quite a busy role as a team leader on the ward, as well as other duties, so I felt I had to complete my commitments there before concentrating on my own problems.”

When she returned to the UK she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent treatment.

The 47-year-old is now in remission and has been back on duty with Newcastle-based 201 (Northern) Field Hospital testing her skills as a medic, alongside the US Navy in California.

Around 100 soldiers from 201 Field Hospital travelled to Camp Pendleton, in San Diego, to be put through their paces by US Navy medics to see how they perform in their new post-Afghanistan role.

In recent years medics’ training revolved around the British military hospital at Camp Bastion but they are returning to their original role of treating the sick and injured under canvas, at short notice anywhere in the world.

The training exercise saw them run a 17 bed tented hospital complete with a casualty department, intensive care unit, operating theatre, ward and laboratory along with staff living quarters and can be sealed to treat casualties of chemical, biological and nuclear warfare.

She said: “It’s been a real privilege to be here, I’ve really enjoyed myself and it’s been amazing to get back to work with my comrades.

“We’ve been setting up a tented hospital, finding out how it works if we had to perform in these conditions.

“We have to be ready and able to set such a hospital up and then run it. And it’s been so nice to meet and work with the American Navy personnel.

“Technology today is absolutely amazing, the way a metal container can be brought in and transformed into an operating theatre within hours will be of great help to anyone who needs it anywhere in the world.”

Captain Landells, a primary care nurse at Bishop Auckland Urgent Care Centre, joined the Reserves ten years ago and has served in Afghanistan twice.

Alongside the demands of Camp Pendleton, Capt Landells took part in adventure training including kayaking, climbing and horse riding in Nevada’s Spring Mountains.