Sinclair School of Nursing

Jane Armer, PhD, RN, FAAN

Professor
Director, Nursing Research, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center
Co-Director, Health Communication Research Center

E-mail: armer@missouri.edu
Phone: 573-882-0287
Fax: 573-884-4544

S312 School of Nursing Building
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211

DC 116.05 Suite 408
Ellis Fischel Cancer Center
115 Business Loop 70 W.
Columbia, MO 65203

Nursing specialty

Community Health, Gerontological Nursing, Oncology (Breast Cancer)

Interest area(s)

Measurement and management of post-breast cancer lymphedema; management of chronic illness; health beliefs and behaviors among diverse elders; relocation adjustment of rural elderly; qualitative research methods

Education

• BSN, Goshen College, Goshen, Ind.
• MS(N), Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Ill.
• PhD, University of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y.

Area of doctoral study

Gerontological Nursing

Area of post-doctoral study

Gerontological Nursing, University of Iowa Center on Aging

Program of research

Jane Armer is a professor at the MU Sinclair School of Nursing and Director of Nursing Research at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. In 2000 she was appointed to the Medical Advisory Committee of the National Lymphedema Network (NLN). She chairs the NLN's Research Committee and serves on the Board of Directors of the Lymphedema Association of North America (LANA). She has been appointed to the Nursing Core group of Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB), the national medical oncology clinical trials research group, where she is vice-chair of the symptom intervention subcommittee.

Selected Grants and Awards

• Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Survivorship Education — Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation - Mid Missouri Affiliate, $6,602, 2008-2009
• Long-Term Breast Cancer Treatment Effects: Limb Changes — National Institutes of Health, $2,255,597, 2006-2010
• Long-term Breast Cancer Treatment Effects: Limb Changes — MU PRIME, $193,222, 2006-2010
• Breast Cancer Lymphedema: Studying Feasibility of a Preventive Intervention — Lance Armstrong Foundation, $247,500, 2006-2008
• Breast Cancer Lymphedema: Studying Feasibility of a Preventive Intervention — MU PRIME, $52,672, 2006-2008

More grants and awards

Selected publications

• Ridner, S.H., Montgomery, L.D., Hepworth, J.T., Stewart, B.R. and Armer, J.M. (2007 in press). Comparison of upper limb volume measurement techniques and arm symptoms between healthy volunteers and individuals with known lymphedema. Phlebology Digest. (Invited extended abstract.)
• Heppner, P.P., Glauser, C., Wang, Y-W, Armer, J.M., Whitlow, N.M. and Reynolds, A. (2007 in press). Breast cancer survivors with lymphedema: Stressors and the role of coping and social support. Journal of Counseling and Development.
• Ridner, S.H., Montgomery, L.D., Armer, J.M., Hepworth, J. and Stewart, B.R. (2007). Comparison of upper limb volume measurement techniques between healthy volunteers and individuals with known lymphedema. Lymphology, 40, 35-46.
• Armer, J.M. and Stewart, B.R. (2005). A comparison of four diagnostic criteria for lymphedema in a post-breast cancer population. Lymphatic Research and Biology, 3(4): 208-17.
• Armer, J.M. and Heckathorn, P. (2005). Post-breast cancer lymphedema in aging women: Self-management and implications for nursing. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 31(5), 29-39.
• Armer, J.M., Fu, M., Wainstock, J., Zagar, E. and Jacobs, L.K. (2004). Lymphedema following breast cancer treatment, including sentinel lymph node biopsy. Lymphology, 37(1), 73-91.
• Armer, J.M., Culbertson, S.D., Radina, M.E. and Porock, D. (2003). Prediction of Breast Cancer Lymphedema based on Lymphedema and Breast Cancer Questionnaire (LBCQ) Symptom Report. Nursing Research, 52(6), 370-9.
• Armer, J.M. and Whitman, M. (2002). The problem of lymphedema following breast cancer treatment: Prevalence, symptoms, and self-management. Lymphology, 35(Suppl), 153-159.
• Armer, J.M., Wipke-Tevis, D.D., Kelly, D. D. and Williams, D.A. (2002). Psychosocial and physiological assessment measures in post-breast cancer lymphedema. Lymphology, 35(Suppl), 199-202.

More publications

Bio/professional experience

Dr. Armer is well known for her extensive research on physiological measurement of limb volume in post-breast cancer lymphedema; signs, symptoms and self-management of lymphedema among women treated for breast cancer and the psychological impact of lymphedema. Armer's program of research focuses on the more-than-two million women who are living with breast cancer in this country today who are at a lifetime risk for lymphedema development. Her earlier work focused on health beliefs and practices of community-dwelling diverse elders and adults, self-management of chronic illness, and relocation adjustment of rural elders.

Student mentoring projects

Life Sciences Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (LSUROP); EXPRESS; PhD mentor; Master’s mentor; lymphedema/breast cancer outreach in minority and rural areas of Missouri

Memberships

• Armer, J.M. (September 2007). “Lymphedema occurrence following breast cancer treatment: The first 30 months.” Podium presentation at the 21st biennial International Congress of Lymphology, International Society of Lymphology, Shanghai, China. (international)
• Armer, J.M. (October 2005). “Post-breast cancer lymphedema: The first 24 months.” Paper presented at the British Lymphology Society Annual Conference, Glasgow, Scotland. (international) (invited keynote)
• Armer, J.M. (October 2006). “Lymphedema following breast cancer treatment: The first 24 months.” Abstract published in proceedings of Cancer Survivorship: Embracing the Future, conference co-sponsored by the National Cancer Institute's Office of Cancer Survivorship, the American Cancer Society's Behavioral Research Program, and the Lance Armstrong Foundation, Bethesda, MD, October 4-6, 2006. (national)

Honors and awards

• National Lymphedema “D” Day Award for leadership in Lymphedema Awareness, National Lymphedema Network (March 2005; March 2007) (Medical Advisory Committee)
• Recipient, Graduate Nurses Association Award for Most Supportive Graduate Faculty (May 1995, 1998)
• Honoree, 1995 Missouri Tribute to Nurses, Education/Research (May 1995)
• Recipient, Sinclair School of Nursing Outstanding Faculty Research Award (April 1995, 1999)
• Honoree, Honor-A-Researcher program, Midwest Nursing Research Society (April 1995)

Memberships

• Lymphology Association of North America (LANA): Board of Directors (2001-present)
• Cancer and Leukemia Group B: oncology nursing committee core member; symptom management liaison (April 2003); Co-investigator, breast cancer lymphedema intervention protocol (2004-present); CALGB Symptom intervention subcommittee vice-chair (June 2005-present)
• International Society of Lymphology (ISL) (2002-present)
• National Lymphedema Network (1998-present): National Lymphedema Network (NLN) Medical Advisory Council (MAC) (2001-present); NLN MAC Research Committee, Chair (2001-present)
• Oncology Nursing Society (2000-present): Member, Central Missouri Oncology Nursing Society Chapter (2001-present); Immediate Past President, Central Missouri Oncology Nursing Society Chapter (2002-present); National Research Advisory Committee member (appointed) (2004-2006); National ONS Lymphedema PEP card resource team, nurse researcher role (2007-2008)