Meet Tanya Angus, a thirty-year-old woman who suffers from the very rare, human-hormone-growth syndrome acromegaly. Born in 1979, Angus spent the first twenty years of her life relatively normal. However, at the age of twenty she started to notice some changes. Big changes.
At that time she was a tall, but slim, young female who was 5′ 11″ and weighed 115 pounds. But she noticed her clothes no longer fit her. Neither did her shoes. Worried about her increasing size, she talked to a few doctors, but was told one-by-one, that nothing was wrong with her. Now at the age of thirty she is 6-foot-6 and weighs 480 pounds. Doctor’s now recognize that she has acromegaly, but it might now be too late.
Acromegaly, a form of gigantism, is a syndrome that causes your pituitary gland – located in your brain – to produce excessive amounts of human growth hormones. This results in continual body growth, that lasts well past puberty and into and throughout adulthood. Perhaps the most well known carrier of acromegaly is Andre the Giant, a wrestler and actor most famous for appearing in the movie Princess Bride. Andre, however, never was treated and died at the age of 46 from heart problems.
Angus, on the other hand, is being treated. However, it might be too late, as her condition is proving resilient even against constant surgery. In the case of Angus, there is a large brain tumor wrapped around her pituitary gland, and even though several surgeries have tried to remove it, the tumor keeps coming back.
So the thirty-year-old woman has decided to fight back in another way. She’s telling her story. She’s gone to the media, to let her story be known and to try and warn other acromegaly suffers to receive treatment for the condition as soon as they can.
I would very much like Tanya’s email address. So far I haven’t seen it anyplace, but I’ll keep looking. I would like to try to help in some small way.
I would love Tanya’s email address! I am so touched by her story. I support her through everything. I will pray for her. God has a purpose for each of us. and I know that His purpose for Tanya is for a special one.
I would love to beable to talk to this women since i ami n the same situation could i please have her e-mail? ty
Tanya, I was your dad’s 2nd wife. I am happy to hear you are alive and persevering through this. It has been about 10 years since your Aunt Debbie told me she was going to see you and that you had this growing disorder. I have lost contact with her. Praise God you have such a smart and devoted mom in Karen. You are in my prayers young lady. God IS in control even when our lives FEEL otherwise. Love, God’s girl, Terry
I am a 48 y.o. female who was diagnosed with acromegaly in January 2009. My heart goes out to you, Tanya. This is a horrible, insidious, disabling disease.
Please keep us posted on your condition. We are all praying for you.
Hi, I seen your post on Tanya’s article. I too have acromegaly. I was diagnosed in 2005, had surgery unable to get all of the tumor, had gamma knife radiation and then Sandostatin injections for 2 years. I am still unable to work. I have extreme fatigue and just generally don’t feel good. I would love to hear from you.
I too would like Tanya’s e-mail, to become friends.
Hi Tanya,
My wife and I just watched your story on TLC today (March 14,2010) and we were touched by how strong you are to live with this disease you have. We are both praying for you and hope you keep hearing good news from your doctor. You are very strong person and god bless you and your family.
Thanks,
Louis from Pennsylvania
I would also like her address. I truely am awed by her tremendous strength of character.
It would be fabulous to figure out how to get ahold of Tanya. I am a huge facebook fan, maybe this is an idea for her? I just watched the TLC program, and you seem SOOOO likable and wonderful. think about it Tanya, I am the only Bambi Fritz on there. Smile honey, you are Wonderful. Love the shoes
Tanya…Your strength is inspirational. While I have been privileged to work alongside some very brave people, I want you to know that your courage has left me in awe. Keep fighting! We’ll be thinking of you and praying for you…..Frank
just watch tanya on that tlc program and was very moved and up lifted by tanya and her family and all they have went through together and was hoping to get tanyas email to become her friend.
in 2007, january my daughter was diagnosed as acromagale the docter told her that she would be dead in a year time since she was to far advanced with this terrible sickness
but she did not accept this and fought back and found a doctor who would operate her.she was also operated on with the gamma knife, and she still has to get injections
sandostatin ,she started getting the injections, before she was operated on because the adenoma was to large
and secreted to much gh. we live in quebec, canada
keep the good fight we are all with you and we love you ,bye,
i too was very moved by her story and feel compelled to reach out to her and others with the condition and urge them to seek energy healings, bodytalk in particular, in addition to conventional medicine.
bodytalk treatments have helped me tremendously and i feel that they would help her as well.
Tanya can we email you. God is so good He will get you out of this. You have so many people praying for you and I am standing with you and also fasting for you today. I to love the shoes and rings. I want to send you a ring? I am 36 and was very touched by your story. I want my children to know you and see what a wonderful family you have. Tanya we are there praying let us know your results please
Tanya, my girlfriend and I watched your show on TLC. We were both touched by your strength of character. We are both sorry for the pain you have to endure and the way people have treated you. I for one find that you are a very pretty young lady so don’t let anyone tell you differently. You will meet someone deserving of you, maybe even get married and have kids. With well wishes Ron
Hello. I had so many friends call me when you first came on T.V they say Jane so one else has what you have. I didn’t see it but one of my friends downloaded on the computer, (I was in bed taking a nap when they called.) They put the phone to the computer and I started to cry she feels like I do hurt sounds just like me. I layed there and cryed. My friend picked the phone up and heared me crying I did mean to make to cry I said no it is ok. I needed to hear your story. Not alone anymore! Wow I said. I call the T.V show to see if I could call or write to you. ( hate to say this but I was so happy to no there was someone else like me I have been look just to find someone like me to see if they feel like I do.I want you to no there are good Dr.’s out there or you could see my Dr. she is wonderful. She saved my life. I went on the computer I watched it. I cry-ed like a baby. I was diagnosed with acromegaly in 2/28/08, I would love to talk to you I no just how you feel. Things will get better BUT not the same. my name is Jane My email acromegaly08@yahoo.comn
when growing up i was taller than the rest. Kids would call me Andre the Giant and it made me feel so awful and acted like it never bothered me, but to this day it still hurts. I do not have this disease but understand when you say that you don’t feel pretty. But you are and I pray that God will bless you with a good Godly man and children and of course health. email please if you need some one to talk to lmendoza@hotmail.com
it’s me..the ex-step-mom again.. I am glad to read everyones encouraging words to you Tanya. I hope you know Jesus and I hope He is the center of your life. You have a real opportunity to reach people for Him. May your pain be minimum and your joy be great. love, God’s girl, Terry
My husband and I watched your show on TLC last week. The one thing that has stayed with me ever since is what the opening statement of the show was: “Tanya Angus was a beautiful girl”…
What do you mean “WAS”?! How aweful. It just goes to show how shallow this world is.
I don’t know if you read these comments Tanya, and I would love to be able to say this to you privately, but I can’t seem to find your email anywhere. Anyway, I want you to know that you ARE beautiful. Not “was”…ARE. (and anyone else who says differently is ignorant and has a dead heart)
Yes, your exterior has changed over the years, like all of ours does, but your heart is the same. In fact, you may even be stronger today than you were years ago.
I want to remind you that you are a princess of the King of Kings and if He had a fridge, your picture would be on it. You are loved. Your spirit and determination is stronger than anyone I’ve ever seen. You are an amazing woman and I’m so thankful for you having the courage and openness to share your life story with all of us. Keep strong Tanya. From the looks of these other comments there are many people in your corner pulling for you. I pray for you…and I send three of my favorite verses your way that have helped me through struggles that will hopefully encourage you as well. (1) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6. (2) Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 and (3) “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.
Thank you again Tanya for helping us understand what you go through. I hope you read this and it encourages you! Love Katherine
I am a college student that is going into the medical field, and the disease of acromegaly is something that is very interested to me. I am doing a research project on this disease, and would love to be able to talk with or even just email Tanya to be able to get her perspective on the disease being that she lives with it everyday. If there is any way i can get a hold of her can someone please let me know, it would be greatly appreciated.
My dad was diagnosed with Acromegaly in 1967 when he was 38. All the typical manifestations: shoe size changes, face and nose broadened, prominent lower lip & chin. At the time he was only 1 of 35 known worldwide, and NIH (National Institues of Health, Bethesda, MD) admitted him within 6 weeks of his dx. as they were doing an intensive research program at the time. His tumor was irradiated so the growth was stopped quickly, and they reduced the width of his face by 1″. However, his biggest problem was the last 9 lumbar vertebrae were fusing and compressed his spinal cord to the thinness of a piece of paper. The surgery lasted about 8 hours and the MD had open blisters. Dad worked til retirement, and lived to 80 (Lung Cancer). He was an insulin dependent diabetic due to the Acromegaly for almost 9 years; this was the first time recorded! His case was featured in the New England Journal of Medicine as it was unique. So, Tanya and Igor, stay positive, as he did. He, and you, are inspirations to everyone. Feel free to contact me for moral support. I’m a believer in miracles and good medicine!
Hi, Tanya. I recently saw the TLC show regarding your condition and felt absolutely compelled to contact you. This message board has been as close as I have gotten to communication, though. I would love your mailing address if possible. Your attitude and outlook on life are incredible. I wish you the best of luck, and will keep you and your family in my prayers. From one shoe-lover to another, your new shoes are fabulous!! Take care, sugar.
Hello, I’m Tina (friend and web designer for Tanya and her new Official Tanya Angus website: http://www.TanyaAngus.com). I’m almost done with the basics but we’d like to invite you all to come visit. Tanya’s in the hospital right now, and I’ll be going out of state and visiting her in the next couple of weeks. I’m going to be making a link for emailing Tanya (once she gets her new special keyboard). In the meantime, come on over and light a virtual candle…we welcome you.