Mood swings, often a symptom of menopause, are extreme and rapid
changes in your emotional state. You can be happy one minute and
angry the next or depressed for no reason at all. Depression,
sadness, frustration, irritation, and anger are the most common
emotions linked to mood swings. These emotional changes are
because hormonal changes in your body affect the chemistry of
your brain. Certain treatments for breast cancer can cause your
hormone levels to go up or down, induce menopause, and cause
mood swings. Mood swings may be caused by the following breast
cancer treatments: - ovarian shutdown or removal - hormonal
therapy: There are also other medications that can cause mood
swings, including morphine, Duragesic (chemical name: fentanyl),
Dolophine (chemical name: methadone), codeine, hydrocodone (one
brand name: Vicodin), Demerol (chemical name: meperidine), and
steroids. Managing mood swings - Identify and avoid sources of
stress that can cause changes in mood. - Exercise can help
relieve stress, focus