Article content continued

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or

“The good news is they said they stopped the growth, or slowed down the growth of the tumour. The bad news is that the tumour hasn’t got smaller. So, unfortunately, we’re back to square one. And I have to go back for another three to five rounds of chemo,” said Mr. Ford.

He has undergone two treatment rounds so far, and has been told doctors cannot operate on the tumour at its current size. Further complicating the matter is the fact that he now says he has pneumonia.

“This is going to be a rough ride, I know it’s going to be a rough ride. I just got to hang in there,” he said. “I have to.”

In an earlier interview, his brother Councillor Doug Ford drew some comfort from the fact that the cancer had not spread. “When it doesn’t shrink it’s not good, but when it doesn’t spread it’s good news, so we’re just hoping and praying,” he said.

Liposarcoma is a rare cancer of the soft tissue, which includes muscles, tendons, connective tissues, fat, blood vessels, nerves and joint tissues. The cause is not known. The typical survival rate for liposarcoma is about 90% in the first stage to about 50% for the third stage.

Mayor Ford is hoping to be in his council seat when the new term is inaugurated, on Dec. 2, but that will depend on how he is feeling. Until then, he is still the mayor, albeit with dwindling duties.

On a visit to city hall with his mother Friday, he checked out his newish digs, next door to the mayor’s office. It’s the same space he occupied when he was councillor of Ward 2. He also popped in to councillors’ offices, and sounded keen to return to the floor of council. He plans to fight hard for a subway along Finch avenue, and hopes that council moves quickly to contract out garbage collection east of Yonge Street and to approve expansion of the island airport. “I love politics, I love the city and I just can’t wait to have our first debate,” he said.