Rob Ford's cancer battle continues 'with his family beside him'
Ward 2 councillor and former Toronto mayor has tumours on his bladder
Rob Ford is currently in hospital "with his family beside him" as he continues receiving treatment for cancer, a statement from his office said Thursday.
The Ford family thanked the many Torontonians who have wished the current Ward 2 councillor and former mayor well in recent weeks, but requested privacy at this time, the statement said.
- Rob Ford continuing chemo for tumours, Doug Ford says
- Rob Ford pursues precision treatment in battle against rare cancer
- Rob Ford 'get well soon' website draws messages of support
Earlier Thursday, rumours circulated on social media that Ford had died.
To clarify, recent statement released was in response to the rumours currently circulating on social media.
—@danjacobs_Many, including Ford's city council colleagues and a former staffer, extended their prayers and support to him on Twitter.
Please keep Rob Ford in your prayers tonight.
—@normHoping Rob Ford finds renewed strength in the best wishes & prayers of thousands. My thoughts are with him, his wife, children & family.
—@towheySometimes even just grievances, along with old battles, should be set aside. I wish Rob Ford & his family my love, best wishes & strength.
—@JoshMatlowThoughts and prayers with Rob and his family "<a href="https://twitter.com/jcrandles_cp24">@jcrandles_cp24</a>: Statement just issued from Rob Ford's office. <a href="https://t.co/By6ErWOFnt">pic.twitter.com/By6ErWOFnt</a>"
—@BobRae48Earlier this month, Doug Ford said his brother was pursuing a targeted chemotherapy under the Panov program at Mount Sinai Hospital.
The treatment involves implanting a piece of tissue from a patient's tumour into mice, which then will take about three months to grow in the rodents. Researchers then test different chemotherapy treatments on the mice to see which drugs are most effective in decreasing the size of the tumours.
Rob Ford, 46, was hospitalized last October for several days and later revealed he had a growth on his bladder. In November, his brother Doug Ford confirmed Rob had two tumours on his bladder.
Ford underwent aggressive cancer surgery last spring to remove an abdominal tumour after he was diagnosed with liposarcoma — a cancer that grows in fat cells. That initial diagnosis forced Ford to withdraw from Toronto's 2014 mayoral election campaign.