TORONTO

Councillor Rob Ford says he received positive news for Christmas from doctors at Mt. Sinai Hospital which has made him hopeful he can beat his aggressive cancer. "This is a good news story," he told the Toronto Sun on Monday.

The Etobicoke North (Ward 2) councillor said doctors told him the extensive chemotherapy he has been taking is starting to work. He has learned the cancerous tumour in his abdomen is starting to shrink to a point where his medical team can begin thinking about scheduling a surgery to remove it.

"It's incredible news," said Ford. "The tumour has been reduced by more than 50%."

Ford said doctors told him "the tumour has shrunk from 13 cm to 6 cm. It is a lot smaller."

It means this should be his final week of having to suffer through chemotherapy. He is now enduring his fifth session of chemo since doctors diagnosed him with liposarcoma in September -- something that forced him to leave this year's mayoral race.

"They told me this should be my last round of chemotherapy and next they will do radiation before having a surgery," the former mayor said. "I have been blessed to have such good medical care."

Mt. Sinai spokesman Sally Szuster said Monday night she couldn't "offer comment on Mr. Ford's condition." Ford added doctors told him a huge amount of the drug, Adriamycin, is what eventually started to knock his stubborn tumour down.

The outspoken municipal politician also said "understanding the medical stuff for me is like others trying to figure out the city budget."

When a friend teased Ford that he would be looking forward to getting his hair back, he responded: "Definitely, but I'm also looking forward to getting my life back."

Ford, who has endured some very "tough days," said now that he has heard this news, he is grateful and cannot wait to tell his family. "I haven't even told them yet, I feel so good about it," he said.

"I want to thank everybody for all of their well wishes."

Ford said he is especially appreciative of the medical personnel at Humber Memorial and Mount Sinai Hospital.

"I can't thank them enough," he said. "I am fortunate to be in such good hands."

Doug Ford is visiting his brother, Councillor Rob Ford at Mount Sinai hospital Tuesday morning, and will speak to the media afterward.



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