Ford starts first round of chemo at Mt. Sinai
‘Working diagnosis’ is new growth cancerous, aide says
Councillor Rob Ford has started chemotherapy to shrink two tumours attached to his bladder.
Ford’s aide Dan Jacobs told the Star on Thursday that the “working diagnosis” is that the former mayor’s cancer is back.
“Councillor Ford has been at the hospital several times this week, undergoing additional tests and consulting with his health team,” Jacobs said in a statement. “He has now been admitted at Mount Sinai Hospital, and is undergoing chemotherapy treatment.”
Doug Ford told CP24 on Thursday evening that his brother has two tumours attached to his bladder — roughly five centimetres and seven centimetres long, that “almost look like a snowman, on top of each other.” He will undergo five days of chemotherapy, then take several weeks off before returning for another round, at which point doctors will assess if the tumours are operable, Doug Ford said.
“Rob’s in a massive battle right now, and we’re just going to keep fighting and do whatever we can, leave no stone unturned, and making sure he gets as much help as he needs,” Doug Ford said, adding that messages from supporters are helping the family stay positive.
Doug Ford said he could not comment on whether the tumours are malignant, but said the situation is “very, very serious.”
Ford said last week he was certain his cancer was back and was ready to restart chemotherapy.
“We’re praying that it’s benign, but you’ve got to deal with the realistic part of things and (be) 99 per cent sure that it’s malignant,” he said outside Mount Sinai Hospital, after consulting with doctors.
Ford was hopeful that, if two rounds of chemo are required, doctors could operate to remove the new growth by the end of December. If five rounds are required to shrink the tumour or tumours, doctors could operate in March, he added.
Ford’s office had said he hoped to be at this week’s city council meeting. He did not make it.
Ford, who still wears an abdominal bind and drain from his 10-hour surgery last May to remove a cancerous tumour from his abdomen, started feeling shooting pains in his torso more than a month ago.
Tests last week revealed the new growth that, Ford said, is consistent with his previous pleomorphic liposarcoma.
The five-year survival rate for the rare and aggressive cancer of the connective tissues is 56 per cent, according to the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative.
The rate drops to 39 per cent at the 10-year mark. With files from Jackie Hong
“Rob’s in a massive battle right now, and we’re just going to keep fighting and do whatever we can, leave no stone unturned, and making sure he gets as much help as he needs.”
DOUG FORD