A 30 year-old woman, Tanya Angus, decided to speak up about the disease that made her go from 5-foot-11 and 115 pounds to 6-foot-6 and 480 pounds. Actor Richard Kiel, who played “Jaws” in the James Bond movies, and wrestler Andre The Giant also suffer from this disease, called acromegaly and commonly known as gigantism, which causes uncontrolled growth.

Tanya, an aspiring actress, says, “It could be hidden, and you wouldn’t even know it until it crawls up on you. You start looking different. It’s easier to catch if you know the symptoms.”

Symptoms of the disease normally include abnormal growth of the hands and feet, along with the enlargement of facial features such as the brow, jaw and nose. Additional symptoms (and their associated frequency) can vary and may be presented through headaches, joint pain, swelling of the soft tissue, fatigue, loss of vision, carpal tunnel syndrome, skin changes, excessive sweating, snoring, tingling in the arms and legs, impotence and absence of menstruation.

This disease can be awaked at any point in your life. It is rare, difficult to diagnose and can be awaken at any point in your life. Bob Knutzen, founder of the Pituitary Network, was diagnosed with acromegaly when he was 50. He says, “It’s one of those rare diseases that just hits you one morning, one night. You wake up and know that something is wrong.”

Tanya Angus Pictures

Richard Kiel Pictures

[images: msnbc, wenn.com]