14-Year-Old Chicago Teen Diagnosed with Rare Vaginal Cancer After Months of Misdiagnosis

A Chicago teenager, Liliana “Lili” Castaneda, was diagnosed with clear cell carcinoma, a rare vaginal cancer usually found in post-menopausal women, after months of unexplained and worsening bleeding. 

September is recognized as Gynaecologic Cancer Awareness Month, and Lili’s case from Chicago highlights the importance of early cancer diagnosis and detection, as recently shared by Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, Illinois, United States.

When Liliana was 14, she experienced what she believed was her first menstrual period during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bleeding quickly intensified, turning from monthly to daily, soaking pads within minutes, and causing dizziness.

Her symptoms were initially dismissed by a physician as stress related to the pandemic.

As per the Northwestern Medicine press release titled “At 14, She Thought She Had Her First Period — But When the Bleeding Went from Monthly to Daily, a Chicago Teenager Was Diagnosed with a Rare Vaginal Cancer Typically Found in Women After Menopause,” Liliana received her diagnosis about a month before her 15th birthday. The condition was identified as clear cell carcinoma of the vagina. ¹

Dr. Dario Roque, a gynecologic oncologist at Northwestern Medicine’s Lurie Cancer Center, said:

Her tumor was approximately the size of a golf ball, and at the time of diagnosis, it was too large for surgical removal. Dr. Jonathan Strauss, radiation oncologist at Lurie Cancer Center, described the treatment:

According to the National Cancer Institute, Clear Cell Carcinoma, is a rare form of cancer characterized by cells that appear clear under a microscope. It most commonly develops in the kidneys and female reproductive organs and is also referred to as clear cell adenocarcinoma. ²

The mayo clinic mentions the symptoms for vaginal cancer as vaginal bleeding that isn’t typical (such as after menopause or after sex); vaginal discharge, a lump or mass in the vagina, painful urination, frequent urination, constipation, pelvic pain. ³

Diagnosis often involves imaging tests such as CT scans, MRIs, and biopsies to confirm the cancer type. Treatment can include surgery, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or a combination, depending on whether the cancer has spread beyond the reproductive organs. ²

Liliana also has Turner syndrome, a genetic condition that affects female development. According to the press release, doctors do not believe her Turner syndrome played a role in the cancer’s development. Because Turner syndrome already affected her fertility, discussions about fertility preservation were not relevant in her case.

According to StatPearls’ Turner Syndrome review on NCBI, Turner syndrome is a genetic condition that occurs when one of the two X chromosomes is missing or partially missing in a person who is phenotypically female. It affects approximately 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 2,500 live female births. The condition is characterized by short stature, delayed puberty, and infertility, and it may present with physical features such as a webbed neck, low-set ears, and broad chest.

Turner syndrome is also associated with heart and kidney abnormalities, endocrine issues, and an increased risk of autoimmune disorders. ⁴

By March 2021, Liliana was declared cancer-free. Her treatment had included a combination of chemotherapy, external radiation, and internal radiation (brachytherapy) to shrink and eradicate the tumor.

Now 19, she is going to university to become a nurse, motivated by her experiences and desire to support other young people facing serious medical challenges. She often recalls upon on the care she received from her medical team and hopes to use her journey to raise awareness about rare cancers in adolescents.

References

1. Northwestern Medicine, "At 14, She Thought She Had Her First Period — But When the Bleeding Went from Monthly to Daily, a Chicago Teenager Was Diagnosed with a Rare Vaginal Cancer Typically Found in Women After Menopause," Northwestern Medicine News, accessed September 19, 2025, https://news.nm.org/at-14-she-thought-she-had-her-first-period-but-when-the-bleeding-went-from-monthly-to-daily-a-chicago-teenager-was-diagnosed-with-a-rare-vaginal-cancer-typically-found-in-women-after-menopause/.

2. Clear-Cell Carcinoma.” Dictionary of Cancer Terms. National Cancer Institute. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Accessed September 19, 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/clear-cell-carcinoma.

3. Mayo Clinic Staff. “Vaginal Cancer: Symptoms & Causes.” Mayo Clinic. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vaginal-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20352447.

4. Lokesh Sharma and Nidhi Shankar Kikkeri, "Turner Syndrome," StatPearls, last modified January 2025, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554621/.

(Rh/ARC/MSM)