Dr. Zane Cohen gives an update on the medical condition of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford at Mount Sinai Hospital
Dr. Zane Cohen (C), colorectal surgeon and director of the Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases, gives an update on the medical condition of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto September 11, 2014. Speculation swept Canada's biggest city on Thursday after Rob Ford, who made global headlines last year for admitting he had smoked crack cocaine, was hospitalized with an abdominal tumor just six weeks before the mayoral election. REUTERS/Brett Gundlock

Controversial Canada politician, Rob Ford is suffering from cancer. The update was given to reporters last Wednesday.

According to Ford's doctor, Dr. Zane Cohen, the Toronto mayor was suffering from a rare kind of cancer called Liposarcoma. Cohen described the disease as "very rare" and "difficult." He also said that the large tumour in Ford's abdomen was "fairly aggressive." The doctors, however, were also acting aggressively to "irradiate" it. The National Post reported that Cohen was "optimistic" about the effectiveness of chemotherapy to treat Ford.

Ford has two tumours, one in the abdomen and the other in the buttocks. The tumour in his abdomen is particularly large. It is around 12 cm in length while the other is around 2 cm. Chemotherapy is going to start in 48 hours while the doctors are going to determine the next step in treatment, depending on the tumour's reaction to chemotherapy. Cohen said that there could additional rounds of surgery or chemotherapy. He also said that the Toronto mayor would have to deal with "tough days" during treatment. However, he would be able to work while undergoing it. Cohen, a colorectal expert, is leading the team of doctors responsible for Ford's treatment. Ford is going to undergo his treatment at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.

Cohen told the reporters that Ford's family were informed about the diagnosis. He said that the Toronto mayor was suffering from some pain. However, the doctors are able to deal with that, he said. The 45-year-old politician went to hospital on Wednesday, Sept 10 after he had experienced some pain. Thereafter, his tumours were discovered and a biopsy was conducted. While the doctors awaited the biopsy results, Ford withdrew his name from the mayoral race. According to Cohen, Liposarcoma makes up less than one per cent of diagnosed cancers among adults. This rare form of tumour comes from fat cells of soft tissues.

Several relatives of the 45-year-old mayor visited the hospital. However, none of them spoke much to the media. Councillor Doug Ford earlier released a statement where he called his brother "an incredible person." "Rob will beat this," he said.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au

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