OTTAWA—New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton says he will fight the cancer that his late father Robert battled 17 years ago

With his politician wife Olivia Chow at his side, the 59-year-old Layton told reporters Friday he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, the same kind of cancer the late Robert Layton successfully defeated.

“Like my dad, I am a fighter and I am going to beat this,” said Layton, who emphasized he will be staying on as leader, which he has held for seven years.

The senior Layton, who was Progressive Conservative cabinet minister in Brian Mulroney’s government, eventually died in May 2002 at age 76 from complications from Parkinson’s disease, not complications of prostate cancer as originally reported in his obituary at the time.

Layton told the news conference he had joined the 25,000 Canadian men who are diagnosed annually with “treatable prostate cancer.” The news was far more serious than the back injury he has been nursing for a few weeks.

Chow, also a NDP MP, waged a successful battle against thyroid cancer and has been cancer-free since 2005.

Layton explained that his treatment has already started and “I am feeling good.”

The NDP leader joked that the schedule of treatments may mean he will be watching more of the Vancouver Winter Games that he had expected to. “I can be inspired by our athletes as they exercise their determination,” he said.

Layton was diagnosed with prostate cancer late in 2009, said his press secretary Karl Belanger.

“He will be treated here in Toronto,” said Belanger, standing inside a packed Estonian Hall on Broadview Avenue in east end Toronto.

Belanger would not say how long and what type of treatment that will be. “That remains to be seen,” he said. The cancer was caught during a routine checkup.

“He (Layton) will be in Ottawa on Monday for a news conference,” he said.

Layton informed his party and spoke to other federal party leaders earlier Friday, Belanger added.

Layton has brought a higher profile and increased public funding to the party since he took over as leader in 2003. In a string of elections under his leadership the party has boosted its seat count in the House of Commons — to 37, up from 14 — and its share of votes.

“There is a lot more to do,” Layton told reporters Friday.

“There is still work ahead of us to build that caring and green Canada that we believe in and know is possible and I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves Monday morning and get started.”

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The birth of his first grandchild last summer put Layton on cloud nine and he proudly announced that he had spent part of his summer holiday happily pushing a baby carriage around downtown Toronto.

With files from Bruce Campion-Smith

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