[MJo]

I am sorry you are going through this. My mother is also difficult, although yours wins the prize You said you and your brother are the two children that never gave her any trouble. Well, you are giving her "trouble" now with your cancers. When I was getting AC and was bald and sick, my 82 year old mother went around mumbling that she didn't deserve this and that she wanted peace in her old age. You mention that your mother prides herself on being strong and opinionated. So does my mother, but in my opinion my mom isn't strong at all. She's a very needy person and didn't cope well when life got really difficult. Your mom sounds like she is going to pieces. I agree it could be the beginning of alzheimers or dementia. I also think the advice to talk to a geriatric specialist is good.