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.