Toronto Mayor Rob Ford admitted to hospital with a tumour

TORONTO, ONTARIO: Wednesday, August 20, 2014 - Toronto Mayor Rob Ford during the Executive Council meeting at City Hall in Toronto, Ontario on Wednesday, August 20, 2014. Photo: Laura Pedersen/National Post

By Sarah Boesveld

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has been hospitalized with a tumour on his abdomen, Humber River Hospital announced Wednesday.

Mr. Ford attended the hospital’s emergency room Wednesday complaining of abdominal pain that has persisted over the past three months but got much worse in the past 24 hours, Humber River Hospital president Dr. Rueben Devlin said in a statement issued to the press at 6:15 pm Wednesday.

Doctors have determined he is suffering from a tumour, but did not specify in the release as to whether it is cancerous or benign.

“The Mayor has been admitted to allow for further investigation to obtain a definitive diagnosis,” the statement read.

It is extremely unusual for hospitals to issue news releases about private patients.

The mayor’s brother Doug Ford and Dr. Devlin are addressing media at the hospital’s Church Street campus at 7pm.

Mr. Ford finished a stint in rehab for drug and alcohol abuse June 30th and was back to campaigning the very next day, keeping a gruelling campaign schedule ever since.

The latest Forum poll has Rob Ford a distant second from lead candidate John Tory with 28% support. Mr. Tory has 40% support.

More to come…