Is there anything that can help my friend?

[crackofdoom]

Bumped into a friend this evening in the pub. She's in a bit of a bad way- peri is hitting her hard. She's already on antidepressants- it seems clear HRT would help her greatly, but she possesses one of the breast cancer genes- apparently her case was referred to the genetic consultants and they said she couldn't have it. She says the increased likelihood of cancer is about 1%, "and this (gestures at glass of wine) probably carries more of a risk!"

Would a second opinion help her, or alternatively is there a good natural alternative to HRT?

She needs to look at her symptoms individually and go from there.
So, as an example, omega 3 for joint pain and magnesium glycinate for sleep.

Her biggest problem is definitely her mood swings, with hot flushes running a close second. I would say that overwhelming feeling of crapness is in there too 😬.

She has always suffered very badly with PMT (as did I) and, as we know, that can go into overdrive in peri. She did just not seem in a good way last night (her relationship has ended- due at least in part to her symptoms) and, knowing how much HRT has helped stabilise me, it seems so cruel that she can't take it.

Tricky one.

She can always get a 2nd or 3rd opinion (privately) but she'd possibly have to go to London to see one of the best specialists who deal with this.

Anti D s are on the prescribed meds list for hot flushes for women unable to take HRT. So maybe the sort she'd on needs a re think?

The BMS ( or RCOG) has a report (guidance) on alternatives to HRT (it's online if you search) and it includes drugs and other types of things that may help.

Her 1% added risk although not great, is very small so she might want to ask for another opinion on that. As a baseline, drs say that women who have a mum and sister with early breast cancer (before age 50) are at greater risk and should be genetically tested. Is she in that group?

Hmmm....her mum has had breast cancer, but well after the age of 50. I'm not sure about her sisters.

This does sound quite unusual.
For a start it's very hard to get a genetic test in the UK for the BRACa gene without a concrete family history. One parent (Mum) would not be enough.

If you are concerned there is a good video on the British Menopause Society where Prof Michael Baum (breast specialist) discusses this topic.

https://thebms.org.uk/publications/bms-tv/

They key message from him is that a lot of women think they have an inherited disposition/ risk and don't.

And your friend is correct in saying that 2 units of alcohol a day have more risk than HRT.

On the link there are also interviews with many specialists and alternative treatments are discussed.