Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says he’s taking his health troubles – and his election campaign for his old Etobicoke council seat – one day at a time as he prepares for his second round of chemotherapy following a cancer diagnosis that forced him to pull out of the mayoral race last month.
Ford was at city hall on Thursday, where he spent several hours trying to “get back in the routine” of work since undergoing his first round of chemotherapy in mid-September to shrink a malignant tumour in his abdomen.
In addition to returning phone calls, Ford said he was going through the cards and letters from well-wishers that have flooded his office since doctors revealed that Ford has liposarcoma, a rare form of cancer.
As he prepares for a second round of chemotherapy next week, Ford said he appreciates the outpouring of support.
“To me, that’s touching, it really is,” Ford said. “If they have the time to send it, I’m going to read it.”
His voice sounding hoarse, Ford said his health battle is taking its toll on his family, including his two young children.
“I explained to them exactly what’s going on,” Ford said. “ Obviously, they’re upset and it’s hard on the whole family.”
But, Ford said he is going to beat the cancer, which he said has a 50/50 survival rate. “I’m just going to give it everything I have.”
Ford has mostly retreated from the public eye since the diagnosis, but did make an appearance at a ‘Ford Fest’ campaign BBQ in Etobicoke on Saturday, where he urged voters to support his brother, Doug Ford, in his bid to become the next mayor of Toronto.
On Wednesday, Ford attended a mayoral debate, only to leave after a few minutes. He said Thursday that he left because he wasn’t feeling well. He also said he was up until 3 a.m. working on campaign signs.
“Last night was a hard night, today I had a little more energy,” Ford said.
But Ford said he’ll stay in the council race for the Ward 2, Etobicoke North seat. Some have openly criticized Ford for seeking public office again, given his health troubles, but he suggested they “vote for someone else.”
“Some people are saying that, but a lot more people are saying, 'I want your name on the ballot,'” he said.
In most polls, Doug Ford appears to be trailing frontrunner candidate John Tory in the mayoral race.
Ford said his own mayoral campaign was “turning a corner” and gaining momentum before he dropped out, and his older brother is picking up the torch.
“We were hitting (Tory) in all the right areas, he’s very vulnerable and Doug’s going to continue to do the same thing,” Ford said.
