Gigantism: Woman who could not stop growing dies at 34 (PICTURED)

The gigantic Las Vegas woman plagued by a rare disease that never allowed her to stop growing has died.
Tanya Angus suffered from Acromegaly, or gigantism, when the pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone, ballooning the body and its organs to unsafe proportions. She died Monday “due to her heart and TIA [transient ischemic attack or mini-stroke],” according to her website.
Angus was 34 years old. She was more than 7 feet tall and weighed about 400 pounds.
“Rest in peace, princess,” read a heartfelt message to Angus on the website for the Acromegaly Community.
“Sadly, we say goodbye to a member of our community,” it said, alongside a collage of images of Angus — showing the disease-stricken woman smiling alongside friends.
In one photo, she wears a birthday hat and a bright purple feather boa. She’s hugging a woman who’s holding a sign that says, “Tanya, Acromegaly Community HERO!”

 

 

Tanya Angus was a beloved member of the Acromegaly Community, which called her a hero.

Angus was 21 years old and living in Michigan when she started noticing the effects of gigantism. Her svelte, 5-foot-8, 135-pound figure vanished, replaced by too-big hands and feet and tight pants. She shot up three inches, and even her head was growing.
She lost her job at Wal-Mart and her boyfriend broke up with her when his parents began to question if she was a man, ABC News reported.
Angus returned home to Nevada, where she was diagnosed.
She spent the next twelve years growing, despite surgeries and radiation treatments that failed to halt her condition. She was in chronic pain, eventually barely able to walk.
Gigantism is caused by a tumor on the pituitary gland, which produces hormones. It’s not deadly itself, but its complications can be.
Angus’ tumor was tangled up with her carotid artery, so surgery to remove it was too dangerous.
About 20,000 Americans suffer from gigantism.

- NY Daily News