There are various possible explanations for the poor survival experience of young women with breast cancer: (1) lack of competing causes of death (Ederer et al, 1963); (2) higher frequency of undifferentiated tumours, more poorly differentiated cancer, microscopic lymph node involvement and negative hormonal receptor status (Bonnier et al, 1995) or (3) more cases diagnosed with stage II or III cancer (Gajdos et al, 2000). This evidence concerns the gene NR4A1 and breast carcinoma.