Toronto Mayor Rob Ford diagnosed with ‘very rare’ abdominal cancer, doctor says

Embattled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has a malignant tumor in his abdomen and will require “intense” chemotherapy, his doctor said Wednesday.

Dr. Zane Cohen, a colorectal surgeon at Mount Sinai hospital, said Mr. Ford has a malignant sarcoma tumor which he described as “very rare” and “very difficult,” The Associated Press reported.

The mayor is set to begin inpatient chemotherapy within the next 48 hours, Dr. Cohen said.

The mayor withdrew his re-election bid Friday, ending a campaign he had adamantly pursued despite calls for him to resign and a recent stint in rehab for alcohol and drug addiction, AP reported. Doug Ford is running for mayor in his brother’s place.

“I think he is a pretty strong person,” Dr. Cohen said of Rob Ford, the New York Daily News reported. He said it would be “difficult to say how chemo will affect” the mayor.