Toronto Mayor Rob Ford diagnosed with fat tissue cancer

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has a rare form of cancer that will require "intense" chemotherapy starting this week, his doctor said.

Ford, who withdrew from the mayoral race in Canada's biggest city last week, was diagnosed with liposarcoma, a cancer of the fat tissues. The cancer is in his abdomen and has spread to his buttock, said Dr. Zane Cohen, who's overseeing Ford's treatment at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. This type of disease comprises only about 1 percent of all cancers.

"I am determined to face this head on and return strong for my family and for my city," Ford, 45, said in an audio statement posted on his campaign website today.

The mayor has been at the hospital since Sept. 11 after complaining of stomach pain for three months. His initial biopsy was inconclusive and once Ford had a second biopsy on Sept. 15, the doctors found the malignant tumor.

It's "a very rare tumor and a very difficult tumor," Cohen told reporters yesterday. "However, we are optimistic about this tumor," which he said was "fairly aggressive."

The mayor may require radiation therapy or surgery, depending on his body's response to chemotherapy, Cohen said. Ford's abdominal tumor is 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) by 12 centimeters, or about the size of a grapefruit, and the tumor near his hip is 2 centimeters.

Ford, who admitted in November to smoking crack cocaine and spent two months in rehab this year, withdrew his bid for re- election amid the health crisis. His brother, Doug Ford, will run instead for mayor in the election on Oct. 27.

Support Messages

"Rob will beat this," Doug Ford said in a statement. "He is an incredible person, husband, father, brother and son and he remains upbeat and determined to fight this."

Olivia Chow and John Tory, the two leading contenders in the mayoral race, expressed their support for Ford in his cancer fight.

"Cancer can be beaten and I know how important support is," Chow said on Twitter. "He has mine." Chow has survived thyroid cancer. Her late husband, Jack Layton, leader of the federal New Democratic Party, succumbed to cancer in 2011.

Ford thanked Torontonians for their kindness and support and encouraged them to vote for his brother.

"I have worked hard to bring about change at city hall and make life a little bit easier for the average hard-working people of Toronto," Ford said. "Last week I asked my brother to carry the torch and continue the work we started together."

--With assistance from Gerrit De Vynck in Toronto.