The woman who couldn't stop growing

At 20, Tonya Angus was a slim beauty who was considering an acting career. And then, almost overnight, she began to grow. Soon none of her clothes or shoes fit, and her voice had deepened dramatically. Today she is six foot six and 480 pounds, and she's still growing.

Angus suffers from a condition called acromegaly, which causes the pituitary gland to produce excessive growth hormone. It's the same disease that brought fame to towering James Bond actor Richard Kiel and actor/wrestler Andre the Giant. But for Angus, the condition has brought nothing but heartbreak. In many cases acromegaly can be treated, but so far Angus' doctors haven't been able to stop her growth.

To be honest, I'm ambivalent about posting this. It's a fascinating story, but I don't want to exploit this woman or treat her like a freak. I think she's courageous for coming forward to share her story with the world. Here's hoping that the media attention her case is getting leads to more research and a cure for Angus and other acromegaly sufferers who don't respond to the treatments currently available.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Got a tip for Monsters and Rockets? Want to contribute to the site? Send us an email.