Doctor: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has cancer

A physician says embattled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, hospitalized recently with severe pain in his abdomen, has cancer.

Dr. Zane Cohen, a colorectal surgeon at Mount Sinai hospital, said Wednesday during a news conference with Canadian media Ford has a malignant sarcoma tumor which he described as "very rare" and "very difficult." Cohen identified the tumor as malignant liposarcoma.

Cohen, the senior doctor in charge of Ford's care, said that the tumor is "fairly aggressive" but that he is "optimistic" about outcomes. Cohen said the mass measures about 12 centimeters by 12 centimeters, the equivalent of about 5 inches by 5 inches.

Doctors said they found a second tumor in another part of Ford's body that measures not quite an inch.

Ford will undergo chemotherapy to shrink the tumor and doctors will see whether surgery or radiation will be called for after that, Cohen said.

Liposarcoma typically occurs in the extremities but about one-fifth of the tumors occur in the abdominal cavity, according to the Mescape.com website.

Ford was hospitalized on Sept. 10 with severe abdominal pain and a CT scan determined there was a mass in his abdomen.

On Sept. 12, Ford withdrew from the Toronto mayoral race. The move ended a campaign Ford had pursued despite a stint in rehab and calls for him to quit amid drug and alcohol scandals.

Doug Ford is running for mayor in his brother's place.

Contributing: Associated Press